TikTok is undoubtedly the platform that has experienced the most growth in recent years. According to Sensor Tower Q1 2022 data, the network social accumulated at least 175 millions downloads for iOS and Android. This leads analysts to say that “since the start of 2018, no app has been downloaded more than TikTok.”
Break age stereotypes on TikTok
If TikTok primarily attracted young users, the short video sharing service has attracted much older Internet users. The researchers took a closer look at this phenomenon in an article published in The Gerontologist. Quoted by our Guardian colleagues, Reuben Ng of Yale University explains this:
These TikTok alumni have become successful content creators as part of a powerful countercultural phenomenon in which older people challenge stereotypes about old age by celebrating their senior status.
In detail, this study focused on a sample of 1,382 videos posted on TikTok by users aged 60 and over. Some very influential accounts even count up to 5.3. millions from followers. The astounding power of these profiles is impressive as their content has been viewed over 3.5 billion times. These publications readily adopt ton humor to stay within the network codes social. The British newspaper cites, in particular, this video where the designer exclaims: “I may be 86 years old, but I can still drink more than you featherweights”, or another where she trumpets: “I may be 86, but I can still twerk better than you.”
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So the idea is to divert the images of sad and depressed older people. However, in some cases the goal is to demonstrate that it is perfectly normal to have different aspirations and abilities as you age, yet still thrive.
