Ten Types of TikTok Lives
This week I decided to take a break from the usual serious topics and explore something fun. Here’s a guide to navigate your way through the world of TikTok Live, and the ten most common types of creators you will find there.
1. Connection Hubs
These live rooms are fast paced, auction houses where users can gain followers in return for following other users. Dropping small gifts can get you seen more frequently, and picked up, but isn’t necessary.
2. Vendors
People who missed their QVC or Home Shopping Network calling can be found here. It’s a mix of people selling for themselves and for companies, but interesting stuff can be found in these lives.
3. Everyday Life
Pop in and listen to others rant about their views while they cook a mean pot roast or ride along as they run errands. The camera is focused on literally any room of the creator’s home or car. Popular with fans of a certain creator and the chats and filled with familiar users emote high fiving each other as the host stirs the pot.
4. Sleepers
This trend has caught on in the west, but is heavily practiced in the east. Basically, you see a person in a bed trying to sleep. If you send a gift in the live it will cause an interaction on the host’s end, usually lights or sound. The key is to “keep awake” the host who is never actually sleeping. What you don’t see is the large warehouses these “sleep rooms” are nestled inside of, where sleep-workers are actually working real shifts doing these lives. I don’t personally endorse these lives, as I can’t verify how much of a user's gifts actually make it into the content creator’s hands, rather than whoever is facilitating these warehouses.
5. Mystics
Hop in and hear the gospel. Not your thing? Find a friendly tarot reader and have them read your cards. Or stop by a Buddhist guided meditation. Or a black mass. Or drum circle. Literally anything you might be interested in can be found, as long as you don’t mind fielding a few trolls in the chats who have differing views than the host.
6. Challengers
TikTok’s answer to game shows. Hosts can invite guests in and battle it out for likes, shares, gifts, etc. A lot of fun if you have a favorite creator you like to support. Usually competitive yet congenial.
7. The Artists
Singers, instrumentals, DJs, visual arts, dancers. Literally any art medium is welcome. ASMR to some viewers depending on what type of live you find yourself in. Excellent places to find hidden gems of talent.
8. The Tourists
TikTokers who love nothing more than to go live and then cruise the other live listings and invite guests in. Usually just back and forth chats about content, where they’re from, etc.
9. Raters
“Not talking till my type comes into the room.” Only they never do. But our urge to see if we can budge them will have their viewer count growing for sure. Also rating viewer’s profile pics on number scales, which has zero reflection on anything in the history of life, but there you go.
10. Round Tables
Multiple guests in the live discussing a specific topic, sometimes debating. Can get heated but most of the time quite civil. Topics might include actual relevant topics in society or be as simple as Mayo vs. Miracle Whip.
Written By: Alice.in.londini.land
