The Cool (or uncool) mom on TikTok

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Face it — sheltering in place has been challenging for all of us.  But instead of freaking out – many moms (of all ages) are releasing their stress with the hip video app TikTok.

Cool Mom on TikTok _ Social ImageIf you have kids – specifically teens – then (until quarantine) you were probably annoyed by anything related to TikTok   This creative social media platform has grown in popularity in the last year and it is now even being used by companies, influencers, and teens trying to get famous by doing dances and lip-syncing.

I joined the app (BC – before COVID-19) as a way to see what all the fuss was about (and to spy/understand what my kids were obsessed with).  It is a total time-sucker.  You can seriously get caught up in watching these creative videos. I am not going to lie – I sat down and listened/watched dozens of videos in an hour and it really felt like 15 minutes.  I promise you – some of the content is really creative and funny.  But, some are just junk and totally staged – think Vine but with video and dance moves.

Since we have been stuck at home.  I have been on TikTok a lot lately.  I have seen a major influx of new users who are moms (and dads and grandparents, too). Even teachers are jumping on the app to make cute videos to help connect with their teenaged students and other teachers.

COOL MOM

Confession! I have begged my daughter to make some TikToks with me.  I – of course – did this after seeing other TikTok-er teens doing dances/lip-syncs with their parents.  You know what — it was fun!  My daughter and I spent a whole hour trying to learn a 20-second dance.  I am the one with the bad memory and bad dance moves – so I caused the issues.  But it was an hour of laughing with my 16-year-old.  Not just laughing – but teary-eyed, cheek hurting, rolling on the floor laughing out loud with my kid.  So for a brief moment – I felt like the COOL MOM.

I also jumped on the trend to recreate a childhood picture and it went “viral” with over 200K views and 18k likes in two weeks (at the time I wrote this).  You can view the video at my TikTok handle @txufchica.

On a side note – our daughter is so creative with her editing skills on this app — we actually had her make a couple of videos to use as marketing materials for our family business.  Those posts on our Facebook business page have several hundred views and help make us look “cooler” than our competitors (or at least that’s how I see it).

UNCOOL MOM

With all social media, there is always a downside, especially with young impressionable minds.  “Whenever there are a huge number of people using a social app, there’s a dark side,”  says Christine Elgersma, senior editor of parent education at Common Sense Media.  There are a lot of articles you can find online about basically any app.  I read one from NBC News that I thought was pretty informative for TikTok clueless parents.

When you get an account (TikTik requires members to be at least 13 years old), you are opening yourself up to online trolls.  Videos have commenting and there is also a Direct Message component (but you must have your cell number tied to the account for DMs ).  This is where observant parenting comes into play.  You can make sure your child has privacy settings in place, etc.  As with all social media platforms – talking to your children and monitoring their online presence is how you can help.

So what does this all mean?  If means, YOU are the parent and YOU will decide what your child can and can not use on their devices.  In our household, I try to adapt to the way things are and I am learning with my kids.  Right now, I am ok with TikTok but I am NOT ok with the amount of time they are on this and other similar apps. 

In an upcoming article – I will show you how I use apps to regulate the amount of time my kids are on said apps.

[pinterest url=”https://coastalbend.momcollective.com/parenting/the-cool-or-uncool-mom-on-tiktok/” image_url=”https://coastalbend.momcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Cool-Mom-on-TikTok-_-Pinterest.png” count=”horizontal”]

Cool Mom on TikTok _ Pinterest

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Darcy Esparza
Darcy started her professional career in CC in 1994 and immediately moved away for her job, got married to her husband, Louie, and started her family before moving back to the Coastal Bend in 2012. Darcy grew up in Florida before making Texas her home. She has a journalism degree from the University of Florida but is more known for her middle school math teaching career and her now title as co-owner of a local mattress store, BoxDrop Mattress (social medial handle @boxdropcc). Darcy and Louie have been married for more than 20 years, have 4 children, 2 granddaughters, and 2 dogs.

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