Three TikToks. That’s how many enjoyable clips of funny skits and dancing videos I could watch until a commercial about the upcoming movie “Fall Guy” took over my screen. I rolled my eyes and kept on scrolling, three videos later I groaned as an advertisement for Duracell batteries came up.
I remember a couple of years ago there were no ads on TikTok, and I could just spend way too much time watching funny clips and following the latest trends. But as the popularity of TikTok rose, so did the number of ads.
From sponsored posts to influencer endorsements, it seems like there is no escape from the constant stream of advertisements that litter the platform. This over-saturation of ads disrupts the user experience.
As more and more advertisements flood the platform, I’m constantly dealing with commercial interruptions. I understand why social media platforms include ads, but the excessive amount on TikTok completely disrupts the platform’s content flow and disrupts any enjoyment users have on the app.
I use TikTok to watch short, engaging videos that entertain and inform me. However, when ads appear so frequently or at inopportune moments, they diminish the overall quality of the TikTok experience. According to a survey done by Statistica only 38% of participants using TikTok tolerate the advertising on the platform for free content in return. With the continued increase in ads that number will probably plummet.
With the addition of the TikTok Shop, the frequency of the ads got even worse. The increased focus on promoting products and services overshadows the original content that I am looking for.
The push towards monetization through the TikTok shop has changed the type of content on the platform as well. I’m constantly seeing some of my favorite creators doing more and more sponsored TikTok Shop ads rather than creating authentic and engaging videos for their audience.
The constant promotion of products and services turns what should be a fun and entertaining platform into a commercialized space. This trend could eventually lead to a serious decline in the quality of content being produced on TikTok along with the viewer experience.
Will we eventually have to watch an ad after every TikTok?
While the TikTok shop may offer opportunities for monetization and business growth, it is important for the platform to strike a balance between advertising and user experience.
TikTok needs to make some changes to its For You Page algorithm to reduce the amount of ads viewers have to watch. This will improve the viewer experience and also ensure that the platform’s content stays creative.
By addressing concerns related to ad frequency and content relevance, TikTok can return to its once engaging and enjoyable platform.
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