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TikTok is the latest social media app to take the world by storm. TikTok has...
-over 100 Million U.S. users as of September 2020
-60% are female
-40% are male
-60% are between the ages of 16-24
-made over $500 Million in 2020 from the U.S.

Source: https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/

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Charli D'Amelio is a 16 year old competitive dancer from Connecticut who happened to fall upon stardom on the up-and-coming TikTok app.

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After joining TikTok and beginning the creation of content in March 2019, Charli has obtained over 96 million followers. She has been a guest on Ellen, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she partnered with JLo, made a commercial with Sabra hummus, performed at a Bebe Rexha and Jonas Brothers concert, the list goes on.
16 year old Charli's net worth has grown to over $4 million since the beginning of her career in March 2019.

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So far, Charli's TikTok with the most views has been amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. She partnered with P&G (Procter & Gamble) to donate towards Feeding America and Matthew 25 Ministries organizations through TikTokers uploading their dance and using the hashtag #distancedance.

How many views on this video did Charli get?

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194.7 MILLION
16 year old Charli obtained almost 200 million views on this one video.

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Why does this type of content draw so much attention? What is it about Charli, and TikTok in general, that grabs the attention of millions of Americans (and others around the world)?
One can only guess, as most do when it comes to social media, that Charli is successful for these reasons:
-The nature of the app.
It's addictive, it's a challenge, it's low stakes, light-hearted, and fun.
For users of all ages, TikTok is attention-grabbing because of the fun, rhythmic dances and 'challenges' that content creators (such as Charli) task users with joining in on. Not to mention, Charli is young, beautiful, and insanely talented.

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How might different people understand this message differently than me?

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How might different people understand this message differently than me?

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According to my 8-year-old nephew, Charli is a "queen". Touché, Anthony. To the younger crowd, Charli does indeed seem like the reigns supreme with her newfound stardom.
Being someone who's in her early-mid twenties, Charli's content not only terrifies me but baffles me. Kudos to her, though! Charli seems both shockingly young and too innocent to be jumping into the world of fame and adulthood that she is. My 8-year-old nephew doesn't see that though, he sees a famous influencer who's got some killer moves, which is also what she is.

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What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?

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What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?

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Not only do I think majority of the TikTok content is light-hearted and enjoyable, but TikTok highlights a lot of the simple things in life, like dancing by yourself in your bathroom for millions of people to see!
On a serious note, I think our younger generation is more noticeable in this environment and the lust for a ritzy, rich, and thriving lifestyle is still romanticized as it is on other social media platforms. Even though the silliness of middle-schoolers dancing in their free time is what a lot of the content is, I can't help but notice the Gucci belts, luxurious trips, expensive houses, and overall ritzy lifestyles are being showcased in a lot of the TikToks that are seen throughout the app. Not to mention, no one is ignorant to the fact that a 16 year old making millions off of making cute dances is a dream of a high school job.
Charli has also been an advocate for rising movements in our country, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. She has voiced her opinions and concerns about the movement, along with other political and non-political movements, on her TikTok. Charli isn't the only creator to do this, but because she is one of the most popular, a lot of young and influential followers look up to her for this type of material, whether it be sponsored or not.

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I think that the American dream of success is still alive and thriving. Whether it's from gaining success on TikTok, passing the time while you're hard at work on TikTok, or watching your children learn and perform dances that seem a little too grown-up, TikTok is very much so a part of our culture. We can credit a lot of that to influencers, like Charli, and all that she has poured into TikTok! We can also credit the undying fact that the American people are always hungry for entertainment and the "next big thing," which has lead to the substantial market within TikTok.
Not to mention, with the growth of TikTok, comes the growth of political and non-political movements. Charli received 194.7 million views, 6.6 million likes, and 168.6 thousand comments on a "challenge" for charity. TikTok has become a platform for creators and influencers to share opinions, spread information, start and participate in movements, the list goes on.
Above all else, TikTok is making millions and millions of dollars off of the content that is being created and shared within the app. Above every reason, TikTok is generating revenue, and money talks!