A teen sits at home scrolling through her “For You” page watching whatever comes her way. Little does she know, the time has flown by and she has once again wasted another night of productivity on the viral app TikTok.

TikTok has captivated the Gen Z and millennial generations. TikTok, a viral video app, rebranded itself from its former name of Musical.ly in September 2016. For those who are not in the know about the app, it consists of creators making viral videos with a maximum of 60 seconds, but most videos are around 15 seconds.

The app is so popular that many users describe its functions as highly addictive. Many users spend a lot of their time making videos in an attempt to go viral on the app. The “For You” page ,which is where your feed is, is based on an algorithm system. This means that regular people can become famous by simply making funny, creative videos. Charli D’amelio, a 15- year-old, has amassed over 23 million followers. D’amelio also recently appeared in a Sabra hummus commercial during the Super Bowl. 

Many big name celebrities and companies utilize TikTok as well. The NFL and the NHL both have TikTok accounts along with many major college and professional sports teams. These accounts post highlights as well as behind-the-scenes type skits with players. This allows fans to get a glimpse into the lives of their favorite athletes.

Celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner also run active TikTok accounts. Kylie Jenner posts exclusive videos of her 2-year-old daughter Stormi, which has followers intrigued as Stormi is not usually featured on Jenner’s social media accounts. The app shows no generational bounds. A prime example of this is Howie Mandel, 64, who is a judge on “America’s Got Talent” and a comedian, along with being an avid TikToker.