TikTok, which has about a billion users, has quickly become one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. Young users love the short, engaging videos that make the app a hit. The content possibilities are endless. This includes viral challenges, dancing trends, and skits. But as the platform has grown, some of the easier trends have given way to some not-so-appropriate trends and subcultures. One of these is the TikTok thots.
In this article, we’ll explore the world of TikTok thots – what are thots and what do they do. We’ll also cover why it matters to young users. Lastly, we’ll expand on what parents can do to make sure TikTok is a safe place for their kids.
What are TikTok thots?
Thot,’ the acronym for ‘That Ho Over There,’ is an acronym that is coopted into ‘TikTok Thot.’ Generally derogatory, it is now used to describe a certain sort of social media creator. These are namely those with teen girls and an emphasis on filler faces and flirty content. Often in the TikTok context, these users are the people who are willing to push boundaries.
Characteristics of TikTok Thots:
- Provocative style: An unabashedly sexual way with clothes. This is accentuated by body language.
- Emphasis on appearance: What most of the content is about are physical attributes. This includes makeup, a particular style of clothes, and filters.
- Trend-oriented: TikTok thots love to get into the popular trend. This is regardless of if it is a suggestive or inappropriate dance move.
- Engagement tactics: They pair eye-catching captions with popular hashtags to gain visibility and attract viewers.
- High activity: These users are very active. They usually post one or multiple videos per day to achieve maximum engagement from viewers.
It’s great content in some sense, but it does carry a risk for the younger audience. These users may not know of the implications yet of being exposed to such content.
What kind of content do TikTok thots typically post?
The content of TikTok thots shares a pattern that is designed to pull in viewers and make their audience stay along. Below are some common types of content posted by TikTok thots:
- Dance videos: These users are many, who create dance videos often incorporating explicit suggestive moves set. These are usually popular songs that have mature themes.
- Lip syncing: Another popular format is lip-syncing to words with flirtatious faces or suggestive movements.
- Outfit challenges: Sometimes there are even “transition” challenges. Here someone changes from normal clothes to something a little more revealing.
- Fitness content: Typically gym clips and workout routines focus on body contour and strength.
- Lifestyle glimpses: Like traditional influencers, TikTok thots can choose to post about their day-to-day life. But it includes a bend toward luxury or glamor.
- Q&A and personal interests: Q&A sessions with followers are a way users engage with them. Here they answer personal questions that can be flirtatious.
- Comedy and skits: They may use humor, skits, or jokes with adult overtones or double meanings.
This content is specifically designed to grab attention. Not harmful in and of itself, the allure is in stretching the envelope. This is something to be wary of if the young ones come into contact with it.
Are TikTok thots different from influencers?
TikTok thots are different from traditional influencers, yes. But there’s an overlap between the two. Here’s a closer look at these distinctions:
Content style
- Influencers: Brand-friendly, clean content that typically appeals to broad audiences. They cover everything from travel and lifestyles to educational content with beauty tips.
- TikTok Thots: Get into edgier, provocative, appearance, and suggestive themes heavy content.
Audience engagement
- Influencers: Covering a great variety of content for an engaging approach from different age groups and demographics.
- TikTok thots: They often feature a niche following, who are on the younger side and looking to be entertained or amused.
Brand partnerships
- Influencers: They like to work with brands that fit with their image. Moreover, they usually take names that have family appeal, and recognizable companies.
- TikTok thots: As the media continues to grow and attract brands that cater to mature audiences, beauty, and fashion. This expands to adult lifestyle brands as they become strong options for such spaces.
You may see similarities between TikTok thots and influencers but the roles they fill are varied in many ways. Although both types aim to grow their followings, TikTok thots generally try to get attention via provocative or edgy wardrobes. However, these don’t necessarily appeal to all younger demographic (for young people).
What impact do TikTok Thots have on young audiences?
TikTok thots can hugely affect young viewers, either in a good or bad way. Here are a few areas of impact:
Negative impacts:
- Body image issues: The constant presence of appearance-based content is also linked to body dissatisfaction among young viewers. So, they may begin to create the idea that if you aren’t beautiful you won’t be accepted.
- Normalizing inappropriate content: Lots of TikTok thots have suggestive content that isn’t appropriate for teens. So, it can desensitize small viewers to adult themes.
- Encouraging peer pressure and imitation: In fact, young people will try to mimic TikTok thots from the way they dress. This expands to the mannerisms they display when they carry themselves.
- False perceptions of popularity: Popular teens are encouraged to use looks and provocative content to gain popularity. This can lead teens to turn to that idea to nurture self-worth and values.
Positive impacts:
Some say that having a few TikTok thots being confident, self-expressed, and body positive is fine. So, there are upsides to this. Still, unfortunately, the upside gets overpowered by the higher risk. Even though TikTok Thots show that you should pursue glamor and be confident, they do so by being provocative. This can hurt young impressionable teens who lack self-esteem. For this reason, the negative impact far outweighs the minimal positive they bring to the table.
What are the main criticisms of TikTok thots?
You hear a lot of criticism about TikTok thots. Here are some of the primary concerns:
- Over-sexualization: TikTok thots’ are said to contribute to over-sexualizing social media. This is about ingraining appearance above personality, intelligence, or skill.
- Influence on youth behavior: TikTok thots, it turns out, are many‘s belief that thots encourage impressionable teens to put too much value on appearance and social validation.
- Unrealistic standards: Young minds can be influenced negatively by their highly curated and edited content. This creates unrealistic beauty standards which can make them feel inadequate or insecure.
- Shallow values: TikTok thots, some critics say, encourage a superficial way of life. This is to base one’s social value on whether or not you’re a pretty girl or have many likes or followers.
Criticisms of these thots on TikTok focus on the possibility that they might hurt impressionable young viewers. This can be in ways that can affect body image, self-esteem, and as a consequence social behaviors.
Why TikTok thots are popular?
There have been controversies about thots but TikTok thots are very popular. Here’s why:
- Highly engaging content: They keep viewers’ hooked with catchy music, short-form videos, and eye-catching visuals.
- Constantly following trends: They’re always on top of TikTok trends, which then makes them relevant, and the most visible on the users’ feeds.
- Accessible content: Even if your TikTok account is quite personalized, the content this type of TikTok posts tends to be easy to find on the TikTok algorithm.
- High interaction: The TikTok thots are very active when it comes to taking care of their followers building a connection and trust with them.
- Visual appeal: Their videos are attractive, and interesting even though you don’t watch their videos for the explicit content.
- Fame and influence: TikTok thots represent the thought of instant fame, which many think is cool.
These factors explain why TikTok thots are so popular and it’s so easy for TikTok thots to rack up huge followings. So, this ignores their controversial approach to gaining popularity.
Are TikTok Thots safe for kids?
TikTok thots are not in general safe for young kids — so the short answer is no. Here’s why:
Reasons Why TikTok Thots Are Not Safe for Kids:
- Exposure to nature themes: Their content is often filled with adult themes that little minds cannot handle.
- Body image issues: The appearance of highly curated, videos may cause self-esteem and body image problems.
- False values: The thots of TikTok tend to focus on looks, followers, and social validation before coolness or anything else.
- Encourages risky imitation: Mimicking these behaviors in kids may be suggested and cause them to make inappropriate choices.
- Algorithmic exposure to more explicit content: If the kids are following such accounts then the algorithm will start suggesting more mature and adult content.
TikTok thots might be drawn to an older more mature audience, but their content is as accessible to younger viewers as it is to adults and parents need to stay vigilant.
How to ensure TikTok safety for kids?
TikTok thots are a cause for concern and parents have to be proactive to help apply some safety to their kids who use it. Here are some actionable steps parents can take to monitor and protect their children on the platform:
Set up TikTok parental controls
- Restrict Content: Turn on TikTok’s “Restricted Mode” to help block out inappropriate things, like TikTok thots making videos.
- Manage Screen Time: Cap out the time your child spends watching TikTok each day, decreasing the likelihood they’ll be exposed to it for too long.
- Control Privacy Settings: To keep content safer and prevent your child from interacting with profiles they don’t know:
Try FlashGet Kids parental controls
- Extra Layer of Protection: More advanced content blocking and activity tracking tools are available with all the FlashGet Kids features.
- Monitor Usage and Trends: This enables parents to see what apps kids use. This helps parents understand the content the kids are watching, and how they are engaged.
- Receive Alerts: Quick notifications of suspicious activities on your child’s device. Moreover, it also features a notification tracker to help you keep track of your kid’s conversations.
Monitor Content
- Regularly review the “For You” Feed: Tok’s algorithm is continually updated. So here’s the easy fix: Just check your child’s feed. That way, you know what they’re watching.
- Have conversations about content: If they are watching videos, discuss them. From there, use this to talk and share thoughts and give context, if necessary.
- Understand their favorite creators: See who the TikTok creators they follow are, and make sure they’re watching age-appropriate material.
Educate about online safety
- Talk About Online Personas: It helps kids know that TikTok thots and other creators aren’t all they are cracked up to be and also that what you see online isn’t always real.
- Encourage Critical Thinking: Let kids know that these people post this way because of money and sponsorships.
- Promote Body Positivity and Individuality: Tell children that people are all unique, no one has to look a particular way to be accepted.
Regularly Review Settings
- Update Privacy and Safety Settings: The privacy options can change on TikTok, so it is important to go back to check it now and then to make sure your child’s account stays as safe as it can.
- Adjust as they age: You may also want to adjust your child’s settings so that their content is age-appropriate.
- Stay informed on new features: You can stay up to date with new parental control features on TikTok to help stay safe.
Parents can then take these steps to make TikTok a safe place for their kids to use the creative aspect of the platform without the risk of seeing inappropriate content.
Conclusion
A notable and controversial part of the TikTok landscape is TikTok thots. Thots on TikTok offer engaging, but often provocative content. Parents need to understand this trend and be aware of the possibility of this type of trend impacting young audiences. With TikTok’s parental controls teaching children about web safety and regular communication, the parents will be able to lead their children toward a safer social media world.
However, if you need something more robust, FlashGet Kids has got you covered. This parental control solution offers advanced monitoring tools like screen time reports and remote snapshots. Moreover, you’ll be able to remotely block certain apps on your child’s phone (including TikTok).
