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Interesting TikTok Secrets

A guide to one of the most versatile — and most controversial — platforms

e-BIONIKA News

Researchers have recently identified a new phenomenon sweeping the internet. The latest craze — TikTok — has rapidly conquered the globe. This dynamic social media platform offers unique opportunities for creating and sharing content in the form of short, 15-second videos.

Across every area of life you can find inspiring dances, creative challenges, humorous moments, and clever tricks — all designed to entertain users. Beyond entertainment, many people use the platform to produce business-oriented content. Influencers and entrepreneurs leverage TikTok's enormous reach to promote their products or services. TikTok even enables a dental clinic to achieve wide recognition among patients. With the right care and caution, TikTok can be an exciting and promising channel for dental professionals to connect with patients and earn their trust.

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Numbers and Statistics Behind TikTok

  • TikTok is available on both iOS and Android worldwide. Since its launch in 2017, it has been downloaded 3.5 billion times, making it the 5th most downloaded app of all time and the first app not owned by Meta (Facebook) to achieve this milestone.
  • Investors have valued TikTok at approximately 50 billion USD, though some analysts estimate its 2022 value reached 75 billion USD. For reference, Facebook is estimated to be worth around 1 trillion USD.
  • The average user opens the TikTok app 19 times per day.

  • According to Qustodio data, young people worldwide spend an average of 75 minutes per day on TikTok. This makes TikTok the most-used social media platform among this demographic.

  • The 10–19 age group accounts for 25.6% of users, the 20–29 age group accounts for 22.4%, the 30–39 age group accounts for 21.7%, the 40–49 age group accounts for 20.3%, and users aged 50 and over make up 11% of the total user base.

  • According to Statista's latest 2023 report, 38% of TikTok users are willing to tolerate advertisements in exchange for free access to certain services.

  • 15% of users find it difficult to distinguish between advertisements and other content. This suggests that ads appearing on TikTok are effective — users watch them in order to enjoy free content.

Issues with TikTok

It is important to note that TikTok is not without controversy. Privacy and content-moderation questions arise from time to time, and the platform's operators continually work to address and improve these issues. Let us examine the platform's key drawbacks.

  1. Privacy concerns: One of the most widely discussed controversies surrounding TikTok relates to data privacy. Concerns have emerged in several countries that TikTok may collect and exploit users' personal data. Allegations of eavesdropping via the microphone have led to the platform being banned or restricted in a number of countries.
  2. Misleading behaviour by influencers: Numerous cases have been reported of TikTok influencers becoming embroiled in controversy for manipulating or deceiving their followers. Sharing false or unrealistic content can have a negative impact on the young people who follow these influencers, as they do not always distinguish between real and fictitious content.
  3. Dangers of challenges: Various challenges spread frequently on TikTok, and some can result in injuries and serious accidents.

The eavesdropping TikTok.

Source: (Mims, 2023)

For example, certain challenges encouraged participants to perform dangerous acts: climbing on cars, jumping on rooftops, or playing with explosives.

4. Content restriction and censorship: TikTok has been caught up in controversy on several occasions regarding which types of content it restricts or censors on the platform. There have been instances where users complained that TikTok suppresses or removes content expressing their opinions on certain political or social topics.

Why is it worth engaging with the TikTok platform?

We have summarised — aiming to remain balanced and objective — the key reasons why you or your practice should consider registering on TikTok.

  1. Share your expertise: TikTok gives you the opportunity to reveal the intricacies of dental practice to your followers through short, entertaining videos. For example, you could demonstrate a simple at-home tooth-whitening method or promote the importance of regular dental check-ups.
  2. Reaching new patients: TikTok is particularly popular among younger audiences, making it an excellent channel for connecting with younger patients. A well-crafted dental video can spread widely with ease, generating additional visibility and potential new patients — essentially for free.
  3. Reassuring anxious patients: Through TikTok videos you can offer a preview of dental treatments and procedures. This helps reduce patients' anxiety and fear surrounding dental visits. With short videos, humour, and a light-hearted tone you can show that visiting the dentist — at least yours — is nothing to be afraid of.
  4. Brand building and fostering loyalty: TikTok enables you to develop a distinctive brand and style. With unique content and a creative approach you can stand out from the crowd and build a loyal following. By sharing engaging content you can forge an emotional connection with your followers, who may become long-term returning patients.

A step-by-step strategy: ready for you to put into practice!

Step 1: Preparing the ground
  • Create a TikTok account and give it a unique, memorable name — for example "Dr. SmileMagic" or "ToothKnight".
  • Choose a cheerful profile picture that catches the eye — for example a smiling toothbrush or a funny pair of pliers.
  • Introduce yourself in a short welcome video, but don't forget to add the secret ingredient: humour and a positive attitude!
Step 2: Create creative and entertaining content
  • Think of dental topics that might interest younger people — for example, the dilemma of choosing the right toothbrush or funny situations in the dentist's chair.
  • Show that dental treatments are not as frightening as many people imagine. For instance, you could make a "What's behind my tooth?" video, demonstrating that teeth are not only for chewing — they also help with swallowing, speaking, and even singing!
  • Produce short "dental fun fact" videos sharing unusual and entertaining information about teeth. For example: "Did you know that smiling uses five times more muscles than a frown?"
  • Let your creativity and personality run free! Be yourself — that is what attracts followers and patients alike. Putting on an act is exhausting, and in the online world it simply does not pay off.
Step 3: Make use of TikTok features and trends
  • Create duet videos with other TikTok users who post content related to dental topics. For example, respond to a humorous dental challenge or comment on a dentistry meme.
  • Experiment with effects, filters, and music in your videos to make them entertaining and appealing. For example, use a "smiling teeth" effect when patients leave your practice with a satisfied smile.
  • Keep track of current TikTok trends and apply them to dental topics. For example, if a "toothbrushing challenge" is trending, share your own creative take on it.
Step 4: Interactive and educational content
  • Create content that directly encourages followers to interact. For example, run a "which toothbrush do you use?" poll where patients can select their favourite toothbrush and then explain in the comments why it suits them best. This approach helps the algorithm deliver your video to an even wider audience.
  • Share useful oral-hygiene tips — for example, how to prevent tooth decay or how to use dental floss correctly. Remember that even educational content can include humorous and entertaining elements.
Step 5: Communication and community building
  • Remember that TikTok is not just about posting content — it is also about building a community. Respond to followers' comments, acknowledge their feedback, and maintain daily communication with them.
  • Ask your followers for feedback on what content they would like to see, or enquire about the dental topics that interest them most. This helps you create relevant, personalised content.

6 Million Followers for a Dentist? It Is Possible!

Researchers have also highlighted that the videos gaining the most traction tend to rely heavily on humour — even in the dental field — and characteristically "ride" trending waves. While this approach reaches a broader audience, the nature and quality of the video content raises a valid question: does it manage to retain the viewers it reaches?

BIONIKA is now on TikTok! Follow us for interesting content.

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Source: Paksoy, T., Ceylan Şen, S., Ustaoğlu, G. and Bulut, D.G. (2023). What do TikTok videos offer us about dental implants treatment? Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, [online] 124(1), p.101320. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jormas.2022.10.019.

Source: Dover (2020)

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