Ask any Gen Z kid, and they will instantly be familiar with the biggest fad in modern culture, TikTok. Currently ranked second on iOS’s “Top Free Apps,” TikTok has maintained its spot in the top three for all of 2019. Walk around any lunch period and many students will be engulfed in someone’s phone, watching TikToks. But what is it about TikTok that makes it the fastest growing social media platform?

According to Oberlo, there are over 500 million active users on the TikTok app.

“I guess it’s just kinda catchy. There’s just so many videos that keep getting better and better as you keep scrolling,” said freshman Mae Moeller.

TikTok functions as a platform to share comical or intriguing few second to around a minute long videos. The content keeps progressing as you scroll down. It’s made to keep you hooked. The app is extremely addicting.

“Well, first I got it as a joke, but I got kind of addicted,” said freshman Summer Gould.

Gould isn’t alone in this sentiment.

“It’s what I do when I have free time, or when I don’t want to do homework and I’m done with Snapchat and Instagram,” said junior Elizabeth Elliott.

TikTok has been downloaded over 1.2 billion times globally, according to 60 Second Marketer, and it has a tremendous effect on teens, including at the school.

As a matter of fact, Colorado has been exploding on TikTok over the past couple weeks. Students from Fairview have been spotted across the “For You” page, a section dedicated to the trendiest videos at the moment.

Junior Will Chiang made a viral TikTok, spotted across the “For You” page with over 110,000 views from it.

“I did it at 2 AM. [I] wasn’t thinking much of it, and then it started blowing up and then there was a war in the comments. I was like, ‘what have I created?’” said Chiang.

Coloradans, like Chiang, have been making “Colorado Checks”. Some Coloradans show off their beautiful state and criticize Californians for moving here, causing increased housing prices and traffic affecting their quality of life.

However, not all students are using TikTok.

“I don’t have the app. I’m just not really into it. I have a little bit more self respect,” said junior Zach Vanzura.

According to Vanzura, “If you kinda make it into more of a comedy app, then I don’t think people will take it very seriously.” Thus, it is not respected fully like other social media apps that are not for the sole purpose of comedy.

TikTok does have the facade of a comical and less intellectual of an app.

“It’s 100% a joke,” said Elliott.

Although many students are of the opinion that TikTok is an amusing app to spend time on, Federal Government officials have had concerns regarding data privacy concerns on TikTok. Also alarming is the fact that anyone, adults included, can openly direct message any account, including kids on TikTok, without requesting (like Instagram does).

If you do choose to download TikTok, make sure to stay in the right circles, but have a laugh on the app.