The Social and the Self Podcast: TikTok
In this episode of The Social and The Self, co-hosts Scout Stohrer and Samantha Su discuss the content of TikTok and the ways it might be considered self-help. They break down seven categories of TikTok videos: mental health/positive thinking, health/medicine, tutorials/skill building, aesthetics/ASMR, relatable humor, life advice, and lifestyle. They explore the categories in relation to self-help and the positives and negatives of each category. The episode also discusses theoretical texts and how those inform Samantha and Scout’s viewpoints of TikTok. Samantha and Scout share their evaluations of whether TikTok is self-help and delve into the many facets of creating content on TikTok and becoming TikTok famous. Whether you’re addicted to TikTok or barely use the app, you’ll want to check out this episode!
Show Notes
Mental Health / Positive Thinking (audio included in episode)
@themindofsol. “A friendly reminder.” TikTok, 27 March 2021, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHaXAAY/.
https://www.tiktok.com/@themindofsol?lang=en. 18 April 2021.
Health / Medicine
@shonnamissymehd. “Requested!! Hope this helps” TikTok, 27 July 2020, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHagLRD/.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHagLRD/. 19 April 2021.
Tutorials / Skill Building (audio included in episode)
@ashfeldeisen. “Creamy cauliflower pasta!” Instagram, 4 April 2021,
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNQu8TxhU5Q/?igshid=a43q4q1heoqr.
Aesthetics / ASMR
@mollymashes. “Cubes soap! I rarely do these anymore.” TikTok, 24 Jan. 2021,
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHan1xq/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHan1xq/. 19 April 2021.
@mollymashes. “Reply to @lilyxjasmin Almost squeezed in every video I’ve done.” 21 Feb. 2021, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMe9EXUpX/.
Relatable Humor (audio included in episode)
@gabesco. “if i have to respond to one more of my classmate’s discussion posts I’ll cry.” 18 Oct. 2020, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHm8Huu/.
Life Advice (audio included in episode)
@codingwithki. “I Miss My Cafe is cozy web dev project by @ifthencreate + @evancook.audio. This is just what I’ve been needing to spice up my study sessions. Have you tried this out yet?” 7 April 2021, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNXyGsJg1xt/?igshid=ac35zxp980u1.
@j.t.odonnell. “SIGNS A HIRING MANAGER WILL BE BAD TO WORK FOR.” 30 June 2020, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMe91mwto/.
Lifestyle
@kyleeandersonfit “this song is so fun” 8 April 2021, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNaGTDHp21Q/?igshid=1q2cx63118umv.
Day in the Life / New York:
@livmartone. “Day in my life..this was fun to make I won’t lie.” 22 August 2020, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMe91r86P/.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMe91r86P/. 19 April 2021.
Critical Texts
Binkley, Sam. “Happiness, Positive Psychology and the Program of Neoliberal Governmentality.” Subjectivity, vol. 4, no. 4, 2011, pp. 371–394, doi:10.1057/sub.2011.16.
Marcuse, Herbert. “The Affirmative Character of Culture.” Negations: Essays in Critical Theory, 1973, pp. 104–107.
represented by Harold Marcuse.
Heti, Sheila. How Should a Person Be? House of Anansi Press, 2010.
Further Reading / Viewing
Matsakis, Louise. “TikTok Finally Explains How the ‘For You’ Algorithm Works” Wired.com. 18 June 2020, 1:00 PM, https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-finally-explains-for-you-algorithm-works/.
@vincedakid. “It’s really a shame how college kids think” 24 Feb. 2021, https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeHmeJ3M/.
@felicitynotes. “share this lil reminder to encourage your friends” 3 April 2021, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNM6LTcBBnR/?igshid=43slh2ocqrxv.
Transcript
Available for download here.