Week 13: Experiments + @flying.fairy7 + prosthetic legs
I’m Kira & this is my weekly highlight of notable TikTok trends and creators.
Similar to Week 9’s examination of TikToks about TikTok, this week we’re looking at creators conducting experiments on TikTok’s algorithm.
The main square of TikTok is the “For You Page” (often abbreviated as “fyp” or “fy page”), an endless feed of non-chronological, algorithmically-chosen videos, customized for each viewer. In response to the app’s censorship of disabled, queer, and overweight creators, users have begun running their own experiments. A creator will post two videos back-to-back with nearly identical content except for the trait they wish to test, such as sexuality, dancing technique, visual effects, outfit, or narrative. They instruct viewers to like or comment on whichever video they see first, using the two video’s metrics as “proof” that the algorithm does or does not prioritize certain content.
These creators, and the viewers who like and comment, are trying to figure out the method behind the machine, moving beyond passive consumers of what is being served to them. This experimentation may also be motivated by creators seeking to grow their popularity and fame. Getting on the For You Page is vital to a video’s success, with a viral hit sometimes gaining its creator tens of thousands of followers overnight. Comparing the outcomes of two videos gives creators some insight into how to best take advantage of the TikTok’s mysterious engine.
Yet while these home-grown videos are a good start at better understand TikTok, they are not rigorous enough for any definitive conclusions to be made. Fortunately, the scientific research on TikTok seems to be (finally) emerging, such as this “observation” from a UC Berkeley AI researcher who created new account, follower a random profile, and tracked TikTok’s recommendations of which other accounts to follow. One can hope for a symbiotic relationship between these curious creators and any upcoming scientific studies, with one sharing their platform expertise while the other lends their rigorous methods.
This week highlights @flying.fairy7, a young girl, no older than 10, who claims to be a fairy that can fly. Her videos often start with her standing on the ground until she waves her hands and lifts a few inches or feet off the ground. While @flying.fairy7 is not the only “fairy” account on TikTok, she is the most popular with over 400,000 followers.
Even though TikTok’s users skew younger than other platforms, it’s rare for a creator this visibly young to gain such popularity. Despite the creation of TikTok for Younger Users, a “limited app experience” designed for users younger than 13, there is nothing stopping these young viewers from making accounts on the main app and being seen by older viewers. The three types of comments on her videos show this age difference:
Buying into the magic (“I think we got a real one”)
Calling out that she’s a child and should be left to have her fun (“omg let her believe!”)
Calling out the ways her video is faked (“Is someone carrying you by your ponytail?”)
The most common and absurd comment is this third type. Imagine stumbling upon a video of a child claiming to be a fairy that can fly and responding with the reasons why she’s wrong. How much of a show-off do you have to be to tell a child how her flying video is fake? These comments are an example of a long-held internet norm: people love pointing out how other people are wrong. But still, it’s surprising that this holds true for something so innocent and physically impossible.
It’s a tad bittersweet that @flying.fairy7’s often responds to the criticism she receives, writing things like “I’m not in a doorframe, like you guys said” or “Look, now I’m in the middle of the room.” Online haters are nothing new, but it feels different when we seem to be watching part of her childhood. Up until recently, viewership of someone’s childhood has been restricted to their family, their own memory, or home videos. But now, the product of a child’s imagination can end up online, subject to careful scrutiny which risks accelerating their loss of innocent play. Her videos goes to show that the relationship between children and social media is not just one of consumption, but also creation.
The award for Biggest Plot Twist goes to this group of girls trying out a new drink. You’ll have to watch the video to learn what the drink is - I won’t spoil it (hint) for you! Here are two more hints: the video’s caption includes “#teenmom” and one girl says what it is at 00:11 seconds.
The award for Most Heartwarming Video goes to this mom’s reaction to her daughter’s acceptance into the Carnegie Mellon musical theater program. Most college acceptance reaction videos feature the student, so it’s a nice change of pace to have the mother’s reaction as the focus.
The award for Cutest Video goes to this kid putting on his prosthetic legs. (Based on the caption, I don’t think the user who posted this is the mom, so the source or date of the video is unclear.) Watch until the end to be rewarded with the sweetest "…I need help.”
Finally, the award for Best Dance Cameo goes to this short clip of two girls dancing in a store, joined at the end by an unexpected guest.
That’s all folks! See you next week!