TIKTOK STARS

  • Paul Sullivan
  • 8 juillet, 2021

It’s fun, it’s fast, and all the kids love it. It’s called TikTok: a social media platform made to share short videos. With more than 2 billion downloads worldwide, TikTok is one of the fastest growing platforms on the globe. Because it’s become both immensely popular among young people and highly suspect by older generations, the application has been restricted and even banned in a few countries.

TikTok’s content is exclusively fast-flowing; videos are no more than one minute and, due to the sheer volume of videos at your disposal, the platform can be overwhelming. Below you will find stars from Canada and around the world you may want to keep up with. But beware: with an application like TikTok, the easy part is getting on it. The hard part is getting off!

Bunny the Talking Dog

@whataboutbunny

We’ve long believed that dogs can understand some words and process bits of language. But Bunny the Talking Dog shows that dogs’ linguistic comprehension is much more sophisticated than we would expect. Using a floor keyboard of a few dozen words, Bunny is able to communicate with her owner (Alexis Devine, also known as “mommy”), as she constructs declarations, questions, and even complaints. Videos with this sheepdog-poodle mix are funny and surprising, as Bunny shares thoughts, perceptions, and games she would like to play. This happy canine is bound to make your day a little brighter; think of it as virtual zootherapy!

Annie Robert

@thismamastillgotit

Montreal’s own “bad mom,” Robert is famous for her humour, spontaneity, and her incredible fashion sense (some of her fans say her sunglasses deserve their own TikTok channel). A home-grown talent, this woman says things as they are and has a very Montreal twist to her hobbies and habits. Nothing is off-limits for this spicy lady: she talks about menstruation, marriage life, and the difficulties of being a hot mom.

Kris HC

@kallmekris

Canada’s top TikToker, this young woman produces hilarious videos featuring a wide cast of characters, all played by one actress: herself. If you like mind-bending humour complete with flashbacks and strange accents, you should follow this media superstar. Each character has a backstory and fits into an intricate comedy-drama somewhere between The Parent Trap and Stranger Things. You can guess that following this creator is more like watching a Netflix series than a string of videos.

Leenda Dong

@yoleendadong

With her vintage Vietnamese accent and effusive energy, Leenda is a whacky and daydreamy young woman whose skits range from comical fashion tips to farcical family advice. Nothing is serious about these videos, which is precisely what makes them so addictive. Some popular videos of hers feature bad dating stories, ways to avoid talking to people, and how to get as much make-up as possible on your face in 15 seconds. If you need a little humour pick-me-up, Leenda is your prescription.

Discussion Questions

  1. Which of the stars above is your favourite? Would you get TikTok to follow them, or do you already have an account?
  2. If you were to become a TikTok star like the ones above, what kind of social media personality would you be?
  3. What do you think about TikTok’s popularity? Will it endure or is it just a fad?
  4. Do you endorse social media? Why or why not?