Six Things Your Church Needs to Know About TikTok

1. What is TikTok? 

Deriving its roots from Musically, TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create 15-60 second videos with either original audio or existing audio as a lip-sync style video. With 1.2 billion downloads and 500 millions active users, it is a platform that can’t be ignored! While not all churches will choose to jump on the TikTok bandwagon, those that do will increase the reach of the gospel into a generation that is looking for answers, but will likely not enter the doors of a traditional church. 

2. Who is on TikTok?

Teenagers!  41% of the users are between 16 and 24. While there is a growing adoption by an older generation of the app, the majority still remain to be younger.  Even more important than that - the average user spends 52 minutes per day on the app - that is almost one hour of their day!

3. What they want to view?

There is a variety of content of TikTok - funny videos, dancing videos, rant videos, and lip sync videos. But there is a growing amount of Christian content. This content can range from someone sharing an encouraging word or scripture to creative Christ centered rewrites of the popular secular songs. Most videos are in the 15-30 second range, with a maximum being 60 seconds that TikTok will allow you to upload.

4. How can you connect with people?

You can connect by watching other people’s videos (bonus points for liking and commenting) and interacting with people who are connecting to your content. Once on TikTok, I would recommend that a church set up their account as a Pro account so that you have access to outbound messaging. On your profile you also have access to connect your church’s Instagram and YouTube channel, however no other links can be added to the profile or to any posts. TikTok wants to keep people within TikTok and doesn’t currently allow outside links.

5. What types of content could I upload for my church?

Many churches may be looking at their resources and staffing and wonder how they would be able to create content for TikTok. The good news is that you don’t have to initially come up with original content!  Repurposing content from weekend messages is a great way to get started with TikTok (assuming that you stream your weekend services and can easily get your hands on the video files). Beyond that, a few other easy content ideas are a short devotion or scripture reading, video to ask how you can be praying for people, or clips from worship songs. 

6. Why would a church choose to be on TikTok?

If social media had been around during Jesus’ time I believe that he would have all over social media! I often dream of a Jesus in the digital age and imagine him creating videos, blog posts, TikTok videos, and any other kind of content that could potentially reach those that need to hear the good news of the gospel. The  of the great commission in Matthew and Mark both start with the word “Go” - it doesn’t say stay put and create things for people to come to you. It says Go! Go and meet people where they are!

Thanks, Jessica, for sharing. Church, we've talked a lot lately about engaging via Social Media, and TikTok here is a great opportunity to engage people in a new way. So, download the TikTok app, and start experimenting, engaging people in a new way.