TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps for teens and adults, and has always been a melting pot of different demographics. It was created with one united goal: expressing themselves through a creative outlet that connects them with other like minded people. TikTok has always been a beautiful place to celebrate the creative arts. Some of the most popular video formats are art tutorials of different kinds, whether it is anime or self-portraits. Another standard video format is dance tutorials, which make up most of the prevalent trends. These trends have helped teach others about a plethora of new ideas and world views. Recently a new trend, which has prompted others to celebrate cultural diversity has surged in popularity. This trend featured an individual who appears disheveled, then "transitioning" into their best outfits by sitting on a chair with clothes laid out on it. The trend using the remixed version of Caroline by Aminé has gained popularity over the past few months. But a few users have taken this trend to the next level by using this opportunity to showcase their cultural attire. This new spin on the trend started by a user goes by the name @milan.matthew. This video over a month has amassed over 11.9 million views and garnered about 2.3 million likes. The video, which featured her "transitioning" into a saree has motivated others to share videos in their cultural attire with their families and friends. This trend has allowed others to share their cultural backgrounds to appreciate diversity and come together despite their differences. To me, this trend has helped me accept or see my cultural attire in a new light. I have been living in the U.S since 2016. Although the overall experience has been great, I cannot deny that my cultural identity has been diminished somewhat as my mindset has gradually been shifted towards conformity. I feel slightly insecure about wearing my cultural attire in public as I fear that someone might judge or, even worse, make fun of my culture. At one point, this fear has forced me to cower in my car as I watched others walk by to attend a function held by a family friend. But seeing the overwhelmingly positive feedback on Milan's video has made me realize that there was nothing to be afraid of and to accept my culture without a care for others' opinions. Tiktok, in general, is one of the best educational platforms on the internet for teens to get introduced to global affairs such as BLM while also getting immersed and developing respect for other cultures. Although there are multitudes of positives regarding the app, one cannot deny the issues regarding insensitivity and overall mocking of different cultures and religions. From Blackface and the constant use of slurs against POC, TikTok can be a very toxic place. By immersing ourselves and learning about different cultures, we can open new doors to incredible opportunities and experiences while making the world a more accepting place. So what do you want to learn next?
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TikTok : @milan.matthew
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