TikTok as a Stage, Turning a Hobby into a Livelihood

TikTok as a Stage: Turning a Hobby into Profit

                       By: Aulina Mahardiani (24104060002)

An important thing we need to know today is the growing number of people who use the TikTok app and even turn it into a source of income. They do this by making short videos containing entertainment, beauty tips,  creativity, or education so that the content goes viral, giving anyone the chance to become widely known. TikTok is a social media platform that has changed the way people interact, entertain themselves, and even work in the digital era. A person who has entered the world of content, known as a content creator, is called a TikToker.

Previously, many people used the TikTok platform to create content that set trends purely for entertainment or as a hobby, but once they were able to influence many people and had many followers,   they turned the hobby into a job that generates profit. Quite a few people have become well-known influencers thanks to diligently making content on TikTok and being able to influence many people so that the content goes viral.

Not only educational content or other kinds, many people also create content to promote their businesses or products through the TikTok app, so that many people are influenced and visit their TikTok profiles to shop. To date, many influencers work with MSME (UMKM) traders, which is a mutually beneficial partnership for both parties. For MSME traders, working with influencers provides access to a wider and more diverse audience, something that may be hard to achieve with conventional marketing. When influencers  promote products on the TikTok app, MSME products can become better known, build trust, and even receive good feedback on their sales.

Of course, there are many challenges to consider when collaborating with influencers through their TikTok content, one of which is measuring the real impact of the collaboration, how to choose the right influencer, and making sure the products we sell do not disappoint the audience, because TikTok tends to be about entertainment rather than direct selling.

Among Generation Z, TikTokers, or TikTok users, strongly reflect the major change in how young people interact with technology. This platform allows anyone to become a content creator, which opens opportunities to showcase talent, humour, and unique thoughts in an easily accessible format, so that this content can generate profit for anyone who is diligent and skilled at making entertaining or useful content.

Since so many TikTokers have made TikTok a source of income, we can see major changes in the business world, the creator economy, and how people view social media. TikTok, which was initially seen only as an entertainment platform, has now become a profitable business arena. One very visible change that many people have noticed is the shift in marketing and advertising patterns. Because nowadays businesses turn to TikTok as their main marketing channel. As mentioned earlier, many TikTokers have become influencers who work with brands to promote a product or service

Surely there are many challenges to overcome if someone wants to become a TikToker or an influencer who influences many people. Because if we want to become like that, we must be ready to face various challenges that can affect our careers and personal well-being. One of the challenges is the pressure to be consistent and creative, because being a TikToker means being someone who moves quickly with trends that change often. TikTokers must always be creative and consistent in putting out interesting content to stay relevant. This can be a heavy burden, especially for creators who feel trapped in an endless content production cycle. Another example of a challenge that may affect social pressure and mental health is criticism and online bullying. The more followers a person has, the greater the chance of receiving negative comments or criticism from their followers.

Therefore, we must consider both the positive and negative sides if we want to become a creator on TikTok. One positive side of being a TikTok creator is the ability to build a strong community, break through geographical boundaries, and raise important issues, such as mental health, the environment and equality. The positive impact among Gen Z is that Gen Z, who are known to be critical and tech-savvy, use this platform to discuss serious topics in a more relaxed and engaging way. In addition, many TikTokers have succeeded in turning their popularity into careers, which indicates that social media can be a tool for earning income. However, behind that there are also many negative sides, one of which is that content often focuses on popularity and “likes”, which can trigger social pressure to keep staying relevant and attracting attention. There is also addiction to social media and the tendency to compare oneself with others.

After learning about so many positive and negative sides of deciding to dive into the world of content creation, we should be more aware that being a wise TikToker is very important. Amid people who create content only for fame or purely to earn income from the app, we must have a sense of responsibility for the content we make, not only toward ourselves but also toward our audience. Being yourself is the key. Authentic content is more easily accepted and rated positively by viewers. Because people tend to be more attracted to creators who are honest, and this is one strategy if we want to enter the world of content creation.