Ever since it was launched, TikTok has been billed as the ‘next Vine’. In part that is due to its emphasis on short viral videos that are reminiscent of what Vine used to be. Additionally it was launched just as Vine was officially shut down, and filled the gap neatly.
But over the years, TikTok has shown that it isn’t just the ‘next’ Vine. In fact it has the potential to be far more than Vine ever was.
Already Surpassed Vine
Although there is no doubt that Vine was immensely popular and its cultural impact was pervasive in the past, at its peak it only boasted 200 million users. However it could not sustain that for long, and eventually ended up unable to compete against other popular social media platforms.
In comparison, TikTok already has 800 million users and is the 7th most popular social media platform in the world, according to a recent research piece from Betway. It was able to grow to 100 million users in the first year alone, and then acquired another 100 million when it purchased and integrated Musical.ly in 2017.
From then, TikTok has continued to grow year after year. Not only does it have more users than Vine ever did, but it is doing the one thing that Vine never could – outpacing the growth of other social platforms.
The case in point would have to be the number of TikTok downloads in 2019. The app was downloaded a total of 740 million times, putting in second place. Aside from WhatsApp’s 860 million downloads, TikTok was able to surpass Facebook Messenger (720 million), Facebook (685 million) and Instagram (440 million).
Suffice to say when it comes to size, TikTok has already surpassed Vine. It is more than four times as large as it ever was, and is still growing at a breakneck pace.
What Makes TikTok Better than Vine?
It may seem surprising that TikTok is thriving in a space where Vine once struggled, but there are actually reasons for that. To put it simply, TikTok is better at what it does than Vine ever was.
The acquisition of Musical.ly is a big part of what set up TikTok’s success. Because of the former’s deals with music companies, TikTok users were able to attach a wide range of popular music to their videos.
On top of that the recording features in TikTok are easy yet potent. Its users can adjust the film speed, add AR lenses, apply filters, and more. In post-production it is possible to insert text overlays and stickers too.
Last but not least is the inclusive community. Through its hashtag challenges, duets, and the AI video recommendations – TikTok encourages users to get involved and create content of their own.
All in all TikTok is more versatile than Vine and its app is more powerful. It enables users to channel their creativity in unique and enjoyable ways.
What’s Next for TikTok?
Having cemented its position as one of the most popular social platforms, TikTok is showing no signs of letting up. Its popularity surged during the recent social distancing lockdown, and it has continued to expand to a wider international audience.
More and more celebrities have started to use the app on a frequent basis, including popular icons such as Will Smith, Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson, Jimmy Fallon, and so on. Not only has this increased its visibility in the US, but globally too.
If things continue, it is only a matter of time that TikTok is able to accomplish something that Vine couldn’t and actually surpass Instagram as well as other social media giants.
