by: Rev. Jim Keat
Every new communications technology brings new opportunities and new pitfalls. Even the printing press, 600 years ago, faced opposition by some who thought that this new technology would lead to immorality — what if they start using it to print and distribute non-religious texts?! Engaging new technology responsibly is always essential, but we can’t let our fears keep us from new opportunities to connect with people, because at the end of the day this technology is designed to help people connect with other people.
And so yes, churches should use TikTok. One pastor doing exactly that is Rev. Wanda Floyd, a pastor in the Metropolitan Community Church. Reflecting on the history and current use of TikTok, Wanda writes:
TikTok exploded on the scene at just the right time – 2017. It was the “right” time because by the pandemic, it was being used by millions of people and when COVID hit, it went into overdrive. With “sheltering in place”, TikTok and other social media platforms became the way that people connected with the outside world. Dance trends, dress trends and challenges were seen daily on TikTok. Some managed to make it as an influencer and others just joined to watch.
TikTok, as a social media platform, has gone the way of many in connection to security. Just about all of the major platforms – FaceBook, Instagram, YouTube – have probably had their share of security issues. At one point, in 2020 during the Trump administration, he went up against TikTok trying to bring a lawsuit to stop the downloading of the application. It was eventually dismissed and TikTok continued to operate in the United States.
As a person who has been using TikTok for a number of years, I have noticed how challenges have gone from a few weeks to a few days in popularity. The number of older users (50+) have gone up given that the average age of a TikToker is 18-34. TikTok has increased its video time to three minutes or more for a video. All of these changes can be connected to the algorithm used to follow the pattern or interests of the users.
It is my belief as long as we have smartphones in our hands, we will always have TikTok close by. It is where the people are located. If any organization – churches, charities, nonprofits, etc. – want to get their message out to the people, TikTok as one or our social media platforms will have to be used.
What do you think? Should pastors and churches be on TikTok? How do you decide what social media platforms to engage with or keep at arm’s length? Leave a comment and let us know!
And before you go, be sure to follow some of our favorite pastors and churches on TikTok!
