Be a lady, they said.
If anyone wants to fast-track their understanding of the impossible demands that women face, let none other than Cynthia Nixon express those five words for you in this viral two-and-half-minute video.
Go on, we’ll be right here.
Ok, you’re back!
Now if you’ve felt that kind of pressure all your life, would you rather A) spend time on a social media platform that adds to that pressure, or B) spend time on a social media platform that relieves that pressure?
Probably B, right?
That’s one big reason TikTok has such a strong pull on young women. A platform favoured for its ‘realness’, humour, and creative expression, usually in contrast to the tiring ‘living my best life’ posts on Instagram and ‘what I’ve achieved’ updates from friends and family on Facebook.
In fact, our What Gen Z Actually Do Online report found that 71% of Gen Z females use TikTok regularly compared to 48% of males, making it roughly 50% more popular with females than males.
Comments about TikTok from Gen Z females tended to have the same thread about pressure relief, thus creating more opportunities for human connection. It can’t be understated.
“I love how TikTok is moving away from the ‘perfect life’ that Instagram has made,” an 18-year-old female from Western Australia said.
“It just makes me feel less pressure.”
And here.
“Personally, Facebook and Instagram make me feel negative, lonely and less connected as I see my feed full of people I know achieving things and loving life,” a 20-year-old female from Victoria said.
“Whereas TikTok makes me feel connected, inspired and educated as I see people I don’t necessarily know cheering me on, going through the same things as I’m going through or being interested in the same things as me.”
And another.
“Where other platforms make me feel shit and lonely, TikTok makes me feel like I have friends,” an 18-year-old-female from Victoria said.
“Hearing people my own age share their thoughts, be creative, educate and have fun is so incredible.
“I say: ‘bye’ performative draining social media, the kind that feels like a highschool popularity contest with likes and comments; ‘hello’ raw sharing of emotions, creativity and passion that empowers and inspires us to create and live interesting lives in the real world.”
As for the males?
Even though almost half of them told us they use TikTok regularly, many males would still prefer to spend their time gaming, being on Reddit or bingeing on YouTube.
