What can
TikTok
teach us?
Millions of people have learnt how to cook the perfect feta and tomato pasta on TikTok. They’ve also learnt how to tie their T-shirts into five different wearable designs, renovate their living room and the trick to sealing a loaf of bread. But it doesn’t stop there.
In May last year, when many of us were in lockdown and spending record amounts of time online, TikTok introduced a new learning campaign – #LearnOnTikTok. In the year following, the hashtag has received more than 90 BILLION views. Alongside this, hashtags such as #LearnWithMe, #Science101, #CareerAdvice, #AlwaysLearning and #FinanceTikTok began to trend – and by ‘trend’, we’re talking hundreds of million, if not billions, of views.
So, what’s happening here? Are people really turning to TikTok to learn? And if they are, should you be too?
TikTok isn’t just for teens
Before we dive in, let’s clear the air. TikTok isn’t just for teenagers. In fact, more than 34 per cent of the platform’s audience is over 30 years old. Just in case you’re not one of the 34 per cent – or haven’t contributed to the app’s 1 billion+ downloads – TikTok claims to be the “leading destination for short-form mobile video” with a mission to “inspire creativity and bring joy”.
So, where does learning fit into that?
The power of the humble hashtag
In launching the #LearnOnTikTok campaign, TikTok knew the power of the hashtag. They know that creators will tailor their content in response to trending hashtags. So, by choosing one hashtag to elevate within their algorithm, they are directly influencing the content created on their platform.
For context, remember the viral feta pasta recipe that came out of TikTok earlier this year (if you’re under 30, I’m hoping you’re nodding right now)? Well, its associated hashtag, #fetapasta, has 888 million views. Impressive, right!?
#LearnOnTik has 90 billion views – that’s literally 101 times more views than #fetapasta!!
Imagine the power of being 101 times more popular than the ability to clear supermarket shelves of feta and encourage millions of people to recreate the same dish globally. That’s the power of #LearnOnTikTok – when you also add a few million dollars funding to it, that is.
Because, in addition to the hashtag, TikTok has funnelled US$50 million into a creator fund for educational content; commissioning experts and institutions, such as the University of Cambridge, to create informative videos for the platform.
We need teachers to learn
So, TikTok is clearly encouraging its community to create and consume learning-centric content. But, when pretty much anyone can post on TikTok (you literally just download the app and accept the T&Cs) can we really trust what we’re learning from the platform? Or would attempting to learn on TikTok simply equate to scrolling through an addictive array of misinformation?
We spoke to UQ experts, Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao and Dr Stuart Middleton to find out. Dr Wilson-Barnao is a UQ media expert and recent author of a book chapter on TikTok algorithm culture, and Dr Middleton is a UQ Business School Senior Lecturer and researcher who has begun using TikTok to share course theory with his students (you can check out his videos here).
Forget about learning for a second, Dr Middleton believes TikTok offers new opportunities for educators to teach.
“What the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to do as educators is give students a menu of options in which they can best connect with us. For me, TikTok is one of those menu items,” he said.
According to Dr Wilson-Barnao, by reaching students on the platforms they are already using, educators are instantly increasing the likelihood of engaging students in the course content.
“TikTok offers a suite of creative tools and we would be short sighted not to be looking at how we can engage with those tools.”
Images: merfin/Adobe Stock
TikTok isn’t just for teens
Before we dive in, let’s clear the air. TikTok isn’t just for teenagers. In fact, more than 34 per cent of the platform’s audience is over 30 years old. Just in case you’re not one of the 34 per cent – or haven’t contributed to the app’s 1 billion+ downloads – TikTok claims to be the “leading destination for short-form mobile video” with a mission to “inspire creativity and bring joy”.
So, where does learning fit into that?
The power of the humble hashtag
In launching the #LearnOnTikTok campaign, TikTok knew the power of the hashtag. They know that creators will tailor their content in response to trending hashtags. So, by choosing one hashtag to elevate within their algorithm, they are directly influencing the content created on their platform.
For context, remember the viral feta pasta recipe that came out of TikTok earlier this year (if you’re under 30, I’m hoping you’re nodding right now)? Well, its associated hashtag, #fetapasta, has 888 million views. Impressive, right!?
#LearnOnTik has 90 billion views – that’s literally 101 times more views than #fetapasta!!
Imagine the power of being 101 times more popular than the ability to clear supermarket shelves of feta and encourage millions of people to recreate the same dish globally. That’s the power of #LearnOnTikTok – when you also add a few million dollars funding to it, that is.
Because, in addition to the hashtag, TikTok has funnelled US$50 million into a creator fund for educational content; commissioning experts and institutions, such as the University of Cambridge, to create informative videos for the platform.
We need teachers to learn
So, TikTok is clearly encouraging its community to create and consume learning-centric content. But, when pretty much anyone can post on TikTok (you literally just download the app and accept the T&Cs) can we really trust what we’re learning from the platform? Or would attempting to learn on TikTok simply equate to scrolling through an addictive array of misinformation?
We spoke to UQ experts, Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao and Dr Stuart Middleton to find out. Dr Wilson-Barnao is a UQ media expert and recent author of a book chapter on TikTok algorithm culture, and Dr Middleton is a UQ Business School Senior Lecturer and researcher who has begun using TikTok to share course theory with his students (you can check out his videos here).
Forget about learning for a second, Dr Middleton believes TikTok offers new opportunities for educators to teach.
“What the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to do as educators is give students a menu of options in which they can best connect with us. For me, TikTok is one of those menu items,” he said.
According to Dr Wilson-Barnao, by reaching students on the platforms they are already using, educators are instantly increasing the likelihood of engaging students in the course content.
“TikTok offers a suite of creative tools and we would be short sighted not to be looking at how we can engage with those tools.”
Images: merfin/Adobe Stock
Regulation, responsibility, and real-world results
When talking to Dr Middleton and Dr Wilson-Barnao, one thing became clear – unregulated, unqualified information is not a TikTok problem, it’s an internet problem. People sharing unqualified advice or misinformation occurs in all corners of the internet and is a battle for a range of industries, such as finance, medicine, nutrition, journalism and education.
TikTok is not exempt from this. In fact, misinformation on TikTok – especially in the nutrition and health industry – is rife. Just watch this lying-on-a-towel-to-get-a-flat-stomach-in-10-days TikTok with 34 million views to prove it (actually, on second thought, maybe don’t watch it – it’s not going to work).
@awidibea #duet with @azhmichel I can’t wait to see some changes😫😫 #exercises #5min #foryou #letsfaceit #health
♬ carrieberkk ab workout - Carrie Berk
However, if we can be diligent enough to seek out the professionals, TikTok can teach us a wealth of information – and it doesn’t all have to be feta pasta and renovations. TikTok is home to dermatologists, teachers, doctors, financial advisors, dietitians, journalists, scientists, voice coaches and an array of other wonderful professionals.
One person who is educating their audience with evidence-based information, is UQ Master of Dietetics Studies graduate, Leanne Ward.
As a qualified professional, Ward has built a following of more than 400,000 on TikTok by sharing a range of nutrition-related advice and entertaining content. In her conversation with Contact, she emphasised the opportunities platforms like TikTok offer professionals.
While it's easy to feel frustrated by the misinformation circulating online (especially after spending years attaining a qualification), it’s this very frustration that creates an opportunity for qualified experts to find success on these platforms.
@leanne_ward_nutrition Follow university qualified nutritionists & dietitians for trusted & scientific nutrition advice 👊🏼👊🏼##dietitian ##nutrition ##fyp ##trend
♬ yall better subscribe to berleezy - zee
“One of the main benefits of dietitians using social media, is that we can set ourselves up as experts on the platform,” Ward said.
“We can explain what qualifications are, what registration means and what evidence-based practice means. That we aren’t just giving out advice, we’re giving out advice based on the science and current medical research.”
By doing this, Ward has seen her audience grow to demand evidence-based advice throughout their social media use.
TikTok has offered the dietetics industry a platform from which to change the online narrative around nutrition advice, combating the all-too-common unqualified weight-loss advice and giving a voice to real, research-based content.
Ward said the secret to sharing expertise online is to keep it general.
“While it’s great that this information is becoming more accessible, in no way does it replace the need for real-life professionals.”
People will always need personalised nutrition advice, and this isn’t something that TikTok – or any mass social media platform – is able to provide. The same goes for financial advice, medical advice, and a range of other professions.
Information can be shared widely, but personal advice must remain just that – personal.
If we can be cognisant to the potential for misinformation on platforms like TikTok, and follow qualified experts like Ward (quick, do it before you forget! @leanne_ward_nutrition), there’s no reason we can’t #LearnOnTikTok.
Do you like to learn from TikTok?
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