For years, adults have viewed TikTok as just another social media platform, an app where kids lip-sync and dance. But ask almost any teen in Atlanta, and they’ll tell you a different story. TikTok is a platform where youth can bond through shared experiences, but, most importantly, it’s a tool. A tool teens can utilize to voice their opinions and build a community.
Part of TikTok’s influence stems from its design. Unlike previous social media platforms, where content mostly reaches those who already follow you, TikTok’s algorithm pushes videos out to strangers through the FYP (For You Page). According to The Guardian, “Even if you have no followers at all, your video will eventually make it on to someone’s For You Page, and if they are deemed to have engaged positively, you can reach thousands or millions of viewers extremely quickly.”
TikTok is already a massive aspect of many Atlanta teens’ lives. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 63% of teens aged 13 to 17 use TikTok, with 17% describing their use as almost constant. TikTok plays an “outsized role” in shaping the ways teens learn and communicate with one another.
In Atlanta schools, that impact shows up constantly, especially within student organizations. Kayla Holland, a sophomore at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is particularly familiar with navigating this app to help keep her campus informed in ways simple flyers can’t. “A lot of the clubs I’m in this year definitely try to use TikTok to promote any upcoming events or fundraisers we’re hosting,” she said, “It’s the easiest way to get information out to the students fast in my opinion, because, you know, almost everyone has TikTok nowadays.”
Her experience reflects a national shift not only toward promoting social events but also toward advancing social activism. A 2024 article by a student at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation delves into how TikTok has proven to be a powerful tool for raising awareness about social and cultural Issues. They go on to explain how hashtag challenges and trends are commonly used to spread messages related to activism and inclusivity.
TikTok has played a central role in organizing movements. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter surpassed 4.9 billion views on TikTok, according to CNN.
TikTok empowers young changemakers across the globe, including Sofia Ongele, a nationally recognized Gen Z activist and software engineer who has used digital platforms like TikTok to mobilize youth around civic issues. Ongele first gained attention for her coding work during the Trump administration, when she built tools to streamline hate crime reporting and fight online misinformation. But she also uses TikTok to make civic education more digestible for teens. She explains topics ranging from voting rights to Supreme Court decisions in short videos that circulate widely among youth. Her advocacy has amassed over 300,000 followers on TikTok and earned her national recognition, including being named UNiDAYS Student Woman of the Year and a CES Young Innovator to Watch. She has also been featured on MSNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and in Teen Vogue for her commitment to youth advocacy. Teens in Atlanta point to activists like Ongele as examples of how someone their age can make an impact that stretches beyond just their city. Her work demonstrates the possibilities of blending creativity with online resources to advocate for and inspire teens.
Youth-led organizations across Atlanta are now leaning more into short-form content, using behind-the-scenes videos to highlight volunteer work, highlight events, or introduce board members. This content feels a lot more personal and builds trust with the audience, the teens, than polished marketing that is often seen within content posted through Instagram or YouTube.
Experts continue to remind teens to use the platform responsibly. But for most Atlanta Teens, TikTok’s benefits far outweigh its risks. The platform gives youth a way to voice their opinions and showcase their ideas that can directly shape communities right from their bedrooms.
