(As released) Filipinos spend almost four hours of their day on social media, instantly making the Philippines the world’s social media capital.
While social media giants continue to rule, a new kid on the block is slowly charming Pinoys. It’s called TikTok.
TikTok, the go-to destination for creating and sharing short-form video content, has been a favorite app among Filipino creators.
Hailed as one of the most downloaded apps in the world in early 2018, it has been home to the kwela videos of Jodi Sta. Maria, John Arcilla, Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Bela Padilla and Maine Mendoza.
Aside from these, TikTok has also attracted stars from all corners of the world. Among TikTok’s popular users are American TV personality Jimmy Fallon, K-Pop giant BLACKPINK, Chinese heartthrob Dylan Wang, British talented girl group Little Mix, and American rapper Cardi B who recently challenged her husband and fellow rapper Offset to a rap battle on TikTok.
All of them swear by TikTok’s easy-to-use features. But here are some hacks on how they maximize their 15 seconds:
Use tap to shoot, countdown and speed features
The savviest TikTok users would know that the tap to shoot, countdown, and speed features are their best friends to creating those snappy 15-second videos. You can tap to shoot for convenience. You can even pause the shooting to cut the video into multiple sections.
The countdown feature, meanwhile, gives you time to prepare for a shot. And, the speed allows you to play around on how you want your video to be rendered. You can shoot in slow motion, for instance, to make your moves more accurate or you can choose to stretch quick gestures to make them look more dramatic.
Maximize filters and effects
Since it is powered by artificial intelligence, TikTok can seamlessly integrate stickers and other effects into any video. TikTok can instantly change your environment to make it look you’re under the snow or the rain. It can even change the color of your eyes and hair or give you an entire makeover with its makeup effects.
Make the most out of the background music
Sometimes, it all it takes is a great background music. TikTok creators know how music can affect the overall output of a video. The app has an extensive music library so you can choose the right music to go with your video. You can even upload your own music to make the content more personalized.
Shoot vertical videos
TikTok videos are best enjoyed when shot in vertical to go with the scrolling of the phone up. When the video is in vertical format, it will be easier for viewers to watch and appreciate the content.
With a mission is to capture and present the world's creativity, knowledge, and moments that matter, directly from the mobile phone, TikTok enables everyone to be a creator. And with these simple hacks, it’s easier for anyone to shine brightly on the world’s biggest short-form video platform.