Since 2019, TikTok has been in the top 20 most downloaded apps in the world. Seriously, there is not a day that goes by where I don’t watch TikTok or at least talk about it with someone else. Getting off the topic of my TikTok addiction, throughout 2019 there have been so many iconic trends on TikTok, whether it’s a new dance or a super weird “point of view.”

While these trends evolved, they were categorized by TikTok users. This began with just “Straight TikTok” and “Alt TikTok,” and with time, these categories became even more specific. For those who are confused, let me explain these in more detail. “Straight TikTok,” to start off, is the more mainstream side of TikTok. This is where you find Charli D’Amelio dancing or different challenges and trends. Alt TikTok is the complete opposite. This side of TikTok contains the type of humor that you find on Vine. It is meant to be more creative and out of the box.

After a while of identifying with Straight TikTok and Alt TikTok, people moved on to categorizing their TikToks more specifically to their interests. Just to name a few, there is Cooking TikTok, Dog TikTok and Painting Tiktok.

They could be specific to the place you live, like Missouri TikTok, or a place you want to visit, such as Greece TikTok or New York TikTok. If you have a really distinct aesthetic, you are probably on that aesthetic’s TikTok, such as Softgirl TikTok or Cottagecore TikTok.

If you have a specific interest, such as taking photos or playing a sport, you can find its side of TikTok. If you like a specific movie or show, you are probably on their TikTok, like Friends TikTok or Twilight TikTok. I am a huge Harry Potter fan, so I am on Harry Potter TikTok, more specifically Draco Malfoy TikTok. One of my friends grew up listening to NPR with her family and this led her to being on NPR TikTok.

No matter what your interests are, you will be able to find it on the app or, it will pop up on your “for you page”. Each side of TikTok has their own trends and inside jokes. On Christmas TikTok, people love to make videos of baking Christmas treats to beloved Christmas hits. Draco Malfoy TikTok ties into the fanfiction side of the app, where people fantasize about their romantic relationships with Draco Malfoy. On Photography TikTok, you can see others’ work and get inspiration for your photos. You will always know when you have reached your side of TikTok just by the audio or the context of the video.

You can tell a lot about a person from looking at their “for you page” and what sides of TikTok they’re on. You can tell what their interests are, what their humor is and what they value. It’s also not that deep, and it can just be a funny TikTok. Think about what side of TikTok you are on. It says a lot more about you than you would think.

_Edited by George Frey | gfrey@themaneater.com_