tiktok and its influence on alternative subcultures

Part of me hesitates to mention TikTok, given that most people come to this platform for a retro social media experience. I suppose talking about an app that didn't exist yet during the Myspace era does somewhat ruin the immersion. Still, since the chapter of time where TikTok was the most popular social media platform is closing, I've been reflecting a lot about its impact, specifically on alternative subcultures.

I always had a love/hate relationship with TikTok. I was very cynical of the app, especially in its earlier days, when I refused to download it. However, I would eventually start making videos relating to DIY and my other interests. 

One thing I noticed was how desperate people were to categorize themselves. TikTok wasn't solely responsible for this; Tumblr also played a huge role in the popularization of "aesthetics." It became more common to see people engaging with aspects of alternative subcultures without ascribing to all the beliefs or the lifestyles associated with them. Listening to music was less about personal preference and more about displaying to the world what kind of niche persona you wanted to display.

I think this phenomenon was partially responsible for the popularity of online poser policing. These people have always existed within our scenes, but social media amplified the problem. Anyone who posted to the internet, particularly if they garnered a large following, was automatically distrusted and assumed to be masquerading as a member of a subculture. Accusations levied against them didn't even have to be true, they simply had to sound damning enough that people would believe them and spread the rumor to other people.

There isn't really a "right" way to go about posting your DIY online. If your patches suck, people will let you know, and they'll complain about what they see as lack of effort on your part. Let's say you start to get better. Maybe you learn to use stencils and to stitch more cleanly, and instead you'll start to get comments about how your patches are too clean and look printed. This is why you should never change to pacify someone else. If you improve your DIY, do it because you want to build your own skills, not because some asshole on the internet told you your jacket looks like shit.

That said, I don't think TikTok was all bad. After all, I did post regularly my own account, so clearly there were aspects of TikTok that I appreciated. Flawed as it was, I still believe that the app made DIY an even more accessible hobby by allowing people to easily access tutorials and information. DIY has always been a vital part of alternative subcultures. While experimentation and creativity are still the most important parts of learning any craft, a wealth of resources certainly makes things easier for newcomers.

I guess the question on a lot of people's minds now that the TikTok era is likely over, is, "What now?" Well, alternative subcultures have obviously existed before TikTok and will continue to exist when it fizzles out. It's impossible to predict when and how alternative subcultures will stop being seen as trendy, but in all likelihood, scenes will keep going in and out of favorability in the public eye. We will carry on doing what we do regardless of whether or not it is popular. 

I hope, in some ways, the death of TikTok can be healing for alternative communities. I think emphasis on social media has discouraged young people from wanting to actually participate in their local scenes, which is really quite a shame. The internet can be a useful tool, but it just isn't the same as going to shows and engaging with your community.

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