Originally published in TEACH Magazine, May/June 2023 Issue
By Deidre Olsen
Over the past few years, TikTok has skyrocketed to international renown, becoming a cultural sensation. Chances are you’ve heard about it from students, if you aren’t already using it yourself. The app, which was launched in China in 2016 and globally in 2018, allows users to create short-form videos and share them with people across the globe. In fact, TikTok has been downloaded more than three billion times, making it one of the most popular social media apps in the world.
As it has increased in popularity, the uses for the app have grown exponentially as well. As with other social media platforms, it has become a marketing tool. But it is also a way for its users to connect with each other, share stories, and learn new skills—and it’s these qualities, along with its unlimited creative potential, that have made TikTok a useful resource in the classroom.
Deidre Olsen is a Canadian, award-nominated writer based in Berlin.
