Finding your dream partner on TikTok? Reality or pipe dream?

Key findings:

• TikTok is an app that was originally intended for dance videos, but it has since evolved into a platform with many different types of content.
• A recent trend is that singles are turning to TikTok to find partners.
• TikTok offers a casual dating atmosphere where users can introduce themselves in short videos and use hashtags and likes to find their dream partner.
• Comments, likes, save and message functions allow users to get in touch with their dream partner.

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TikTok – Isn't that the app originally intended for dance videos when it launched in 2016?

That's right, but since its release, the app has taken a 180-degree turn and is no longer just for fun dance videos. Content creators and businesses have discovered the app's great potential for reaching and growing their audience.

What else are users using TikTok for? What would you say if we told you that numerous users also use the app to find love? You read it right, because TikTok has opened up a new market and is considered a new alternative to common dating apps like Tinder or LOVOO.

Especially during the recent pandemic, TikTok experienced an incredible boom. A study by the company "Adjust" found that it was the app with the most downloads within this period. Anyone who still thinks the network is more for the younger generation would be surprised after spending some time on TikTok, because the app is used by all different generations. Even people over 50 seem to like the short video format for its entertainment potential.

In this article, we would like to look at TikTok with a different angle. Instead of focusing on the funny short videos with various trending dances, we’ll delve into whether the TikTok app is suitable as a dating platform. Time to delete Tinder and shoot a short introduction video on TikTok instead? Find out now:

• What is TikTok anyway?
• How can TikTok help you date?

What is TikTok anyway?

TikTok saw its launch in 2016 under a different name. As "Musical.ly," it became known for allowing members to record and post short videos featuring synchronized dancing and singing. Then in 2018 came the name change to TikTok and from then on the app spread like wildfire around the world, attracting billions of users.

The manufacturer emphasizes that on TikTok there should be comfortable coexistence for all and discrimination and hate speech are undesirable and will be blocked. Today, various types of creativity can be found on the app, ranging from dance interludes to read-aloud videos and tips on how to save money. Another trend that has developed recently is women showing off their clothes and fading in a split-second image of them posing in their underwear. Such TikToks are meant to encourage men to watch the video multiple times and take a screenshot at the right moment. The variety of content on the app knows very few limits, although pornographic, violent and racist content is not allowed.

Hardly any other app makes it so easy for its users to go viral and achieve an enormous reach. During the pandemic, countless creators have sprung up via TikTok and are now among the best-known influencers in the social media world.

The content creators use hashtags on their posts and can thus target people precisely and expand their community. One of the most popular features is "duets," which allow users to take a TikTok from another creator and embed it in their own video.

And businesses have also realized that the app is a great addition to any marketing campaign.

And now, on top of that, the app is supposed to become a dating oasis? Yes, and that brings us to the question....

How can TikTok help you date?

When you downloaded TikTok, your intention probably wasn’t to find a partner through the app. You probably spend most of your time watching funny videos and swipe up diligently the whole time. You probably also know that the app checks in the background which videos you like and which ones you spend a lot of time on. This is how the "For You" page is created, which is TikTok's homepage. There, you are presented with videos that match your usage behavior.

If you mainly watch videos by street photographers and give them a lot of likes, the app will show you many such TikToks on your FY page.

When you sign up, random videos from different categories are displayed. In the background, an algorithm determines which clips get a lot of attention from you and which you skip directly. As on Instagram, you can use hashtags to browse individual categories and view all videos that have been tagged with this hashtag.

This means you end up putting together your own home page of clips you like to watch.

And here comes the crucial point...

For example, if you enter "single" when searching for hashtags, the app will show you TikToks with that hashtag. This will give you a wide selection of videos from singles using the platform.

More casual and authentic searches for a partner

While we put pressure on ourselves on dating sites, TikTok is a completely different story. The app is intended to be more of an entertainment tool, which makes for a much more casual vibe. While there are no profiles like on dating apps, there is a profile full of short videos. This gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about the person behind the account in advance. It's very popular among singles to make an introduction video where you get to see age, interests, and on top of that, the complete person.

Helpful features for interaction

What else makes TikTok a dating alternative?

There are a variety of discreet functions you can use to draw attention to yourself. Of course, first off you can shoot videos yourself, upload them and tag them with the appropriate hashtags to attract other singles.

Or you can discreetly show your interest in a single by giving Likes, commenting on posts or saving them. Most recently, Creators can see which users have saved their videos, which helps draw attention to you. Comment on TikTok videos and get in touch with singles who appeal to you with their content. Follow a person you like and once you follow each other, you can also use the messaging feature.

To sum up: Can you find your dream partner on TikTok?

It might sound a little silly at first, but it's definitely possible. TikTok is not just an app where creators let off steam and companies expand their target audience. There is also a large and, above all, active singles market on the app, and it differs significantly from that on other dating platforms.

Singles present themselves in videos and not just pictures, which gives you more insight into their behavior, interests and intentions. And the LGBTQ scene in particular finds a large pool of like-minded people on TikTok who are looking for a partner. The advantage is that the app offers you various features to start a conversation with your crush. Give likes, comment on posts and save them in your favorites to get attention. This way, an exchange can already take place in the comments under videos and the conversation can be deepened later in the DMs.

Further Readings

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