Is TiKTok suitable as a tool for teaching and learning of the English Language for university students? / Dr. Tuan Sarifah Aini Syed Ahmad

Did you know that TikTok was a lip-syncing app known as Musical.ly, established in Shanghai, China, in 2014? Musically only allowed users to create a video from 15 seconds to 1 minute. In 2018, the app was acquired by ByteDance, headquartered in Beijing, China, and its name was changed to TikTok. It allows users to create and share short video postings using filters, stickers, voiceovers, sound effects, and background music. In 2022, TikTok changed the maximum length of video uploads from three to 10 minutes. TikTok can be accessed as a phone app on Android and iOS systems. It can also be accessed as a web app on personal computers using various browsers, such as Chrome, Google, or Microsoft Edge. The following statistics provided by GilPress (2024) indicate that TikTok is a popular social media site among young people. Interestingly, most TikTok users are 18 to 24 years old (37.3%), followed by 25 to 34 years old (32.9%), 35 to 44 years old (15.7%), 45 to 54 years old (8.3%) and more than 55 years old (5.8%). Apparently, university students at the diploma and degree levels generally age between 18 and 24 years old.