TikTok is the new Mecca for viral videos and influencers. To stay ahead of the curve, the next generation of creators are coming up with different types of content for #coronavirus on the app. A quick search will show you a lot of TikToks mostly accompanied by what is now dubbed as the official TikTok song for the outbreak, “It’s Corona Time” by Red Knight. Some are uplifting. Some are funny. But there are those that toe the line of dark humor. How are we coping with and processing the unprecedented global disruption brought by COVID-19? We look at some TikToks to find out.
Unsanitary insanity
Testing the limits of the human immune system a la Fear Factor is one of the oddest coping mechanisms we have seen so far. Whether it’s a way to dismiss the gravity of the health crisis or just for the LOLs, we have to remember that not everyone can afford the costs of getting infected with the virus. These videos get a no from us.
In a now deleted video, Ava Louise licked the seat of an aircraft toilet and captioned it with coronavirus challenge. We wish we could unsee.
Fear Factor SLC gave a different meaning to the phrase a show of hands. A mud-caked pair of hands gets washed to reveal what may or may not be prosthetic gloves. Whichever the case, now’s not exactly the time to get your hands dirty on purpose.
Careless coughing and casual racism
Another trend we’re not feeling the hype for is coughing in enclosed, public spaces. Flu season just got replaced with the allergy season. However, some are faking coughs for fear-mongering clout. It’s not that funny considering how insensitivity is also indicative of privilege. The disadvantaged not only lack access to proper healthcare in the midst of COVID-19–they are also subjected to racial resentment and social class distancing. Case in point: a guy showing us the extreme measures he took upon receiving a letter from Japan.
The dance challenge
TikTok is best known for its dance challenges. It was only a matter of time before dance accounts started hitting the whoa to the beats of songs like Lil Nix’s Corona Virus.
Social commentary
We have all been forced to adapt to some big changes in order to stay safe from COVID-19. Here’s how TikTokers poked fun at panic buying, self-quarantines and everything else in between.
Jadetheserpent showed us the two ways people have reacted to news of the outbreak. Some obsess over cleaning and over-prepare while others try to be a bit more pragmatic.
There’s been a scarcity of tissue rolls due to panic buying and stockpiling. Hoarders who sold supplies at higher prices got banned on online shopping sites like Amazon. Nina Marie Daniele imagines what they’ll do in order to keep selling.
Speaking of how prized these products have become, Jack shares how he got lucky on the claw machine and scored a roll of tissue.
Ever wondered whether Tesla Model X’s “bioweapon defense mode” can actually ward off viruses? We might find out from The Marketing Guy in a month or so.
Plastic bag over your clothes is a bit overkill. But that’s the whole point of an outlandish look at how teens could be spending this summer.
Tips and Good Vibes
Even the World Health Organization (WHO) is now on TikTok. The WHO isn’t the only one who let those informational videos out. Some are more text-heavy but others are simpler. An example is this illustration of how soap fights off bacteria from Agu Tortu.
In times of distress, a show of solidarity can help lift the mood. This TikTok captured how Geneva residents literally applauded tireless and brave health workers and cleaning personnel.
Did this article give you ideas for your next TikTok? If you’re planning on making your own coronavirus content, please do us a favor and strike a balance between being considerate and creative.
Photo by Kon Karampelas on Unsplash
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