tiktok about essay hack

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From the writing center at the university of wisconsin-madison.

#essayhack: What TikTok can Teach Writing Centers about Student Perceptions of College Writing

By Holly Berkowitz, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

There is a widespread perception that TikTok, the popular video-sharing social media platform, is primarily a tool of distraction where one mindlessly scrolls through bite-sized bits of content. However, due to the viewer’s ability to engage with short-form video content, it is undeniable that TikTok is also a platform from which users gain information; whether this means following a viral dance tutorial or learning how to fold a fitted sheet, TikTok houses millions of videos that serve as instructional tutorials that provides tips or how-tos for its over one billion active users. 

That TikTok might be considered a learning tool also has implications for educational contexts. Recent research has revealed that watching or even creating TikToks in classrooms can aid learning objectives, particularly relating to language acquisition or narrative writing skills. In this post, I discuss  the conventions of and consequences for TikToks that discuss college writing. Because of the popularity of videos that spotlight “how-tos” or “day in the life” style content, looking at essay or college writing TikTok can be a helpful tool for understanding some larger trends and student perceptions of writing. Due to the instructional nature of TikToks and the ways that students might be using the app for advice, these videos can be viewed as parallel or ancillary to the advice that a Writing Center tutor might provide.

A search for common hashtags including the words “essay,” “college writing,” or “essay writing hack” yields hundreds of videos that pertain to writing at the college level. Although there is a large variety in content due to the sheer amount of content, this post focuses on two genres of videos as they represent a large portion of what is shared: first, videos that provide tips or how-tos for certain AI tools or assignment genres and second, videos that invite the viewer to accompany the creator as they write a paper under a deadline. Shared themes include attempts to establish peer connections and comfort viewers who procrastinate while writing, a focus on writing speed and concrete deliverables (page count, word limit, or hours to write), and an emphasis on digital tools or AI software (especially that which is marked as “not cheating”). Not only does a closer examination into these videos help us meet writers where they are more precisely, but it also draws writing center workers’ attention to lesser known digital tools or “hacks” that students are using for their assignments.

“How to write” Videos

Videos in the “how to” style are instructional and advice-dispensing in tone. Often, the creator utilizes a digital writing aid or provides a set of writing tips or steps to follow. Whether these videos spotlight assistive technologies that use AI, helpful websites, or suggestions for specific forms of writing, they often position writing as a roadblock or adversary. Videos of this nature attempt to reach viewers by promising to make writing easier, more approachable, or just faster when working under a tight deadline; they almost always assume the writer in question has left their writing task to the last possible moment. It’s not surprising then that the most widely shared examples of this form of content are videos with titles like “How to speed-write long papers” or “How to make any essay longer” (this one has 32 million views). It is evident that this type of content attempts to target students who suffer from writing-related anxiety or who tend to procrastinate while writing.

Sharing “hacks” online is a common practice that manifests in many corners of TikTok where content creators demonstrate an easier or more efficient way of achieving a task (such as loading a dishwasher) or obtaining a result (such as finding affordable airline tickets). The same principle applies to #essay TikTok, where writing advice is often framed as a “hack” for writing faster papers, longer papers, or papers more likely to result in an A. This content uses a familiar titling convention: How to write X (where X might be a specific genre like a literature review, or just an amount of pages or words); How to write X in X amount of time; and How to write X using this software or AI program. The amount of time is always tantalizingly brief, as two examples—“How to write a 5 page essay in 2 mins” and “How to write an essay in five minutes!! NO PLAGIARISM!!”—attest to. While some of these are silly or no longer useful methods of getting around assignment parameters, they introduce viewers to helpful research and writing aids and sometimes even spotlight Writing Center best practices. For instance, a video by creator @kaylacp called “Research Paper Hack” shows viewers how to use a program called PowerNotes to organize and code sources; a video by @patches has almost seven million views and demonstrates using an AI bot to both grade her paper and provide substantive feedback. Taken as a whole, this subsect of TikTok underscores that there is a ready audience for content that purports to assist writers in meeting the deliverables of a writing assignment using a path of least resistance.

Similarly, TikTok contains myriad videos that position the creator as a sort of expert in college writing and dispense tips for improving academic writing and style. These videos are often created by upperclassmen who claim to frequently receive As on essays and tend to use persuasive language in the style of an infomercial, such as “How to write a college paper like a pro,” “How to write research papers more efficiently in 5 easy steps!” or “College students, if you’re not using this feature, you’re wasting your time.” The focus in these videos is even more explicit than those mentioned above, as college students are addressed in the titles and captions directly. This is significant  because it prompts users to engage with this content as they might with a Writing Center tutor or tutoring more generally. These videos are sites where students are learning how to write more efficiently but also learning how their college peers view and treat the writing process. 

The “how to write” videos share several common themes, most prevalent of which is an emphasis on concrete deliverables—you will be able to produce this many pages in this many minutes. They also share a tendency to introduce or spotlight different digital tools and assistive technologies that make writing more expedient; although several videos reference or demonstrate how to use ChatGPT or OpenAI, most creators attempt to show viewers less widely discussed platforms and programs. As parallel forms of writing instruction, these how-tos tend to focus on quantity over quality and writing-as-product. However, they also showcase ways that AI can be helpful and generative for writers at all stages. Most notably they direct our attention to the fact that student writers consistently encounter writing- and essay- related content while scrolling TikTok.

Write “with me” Videos

Just as the how-to style videos target writers who view writing negatively and may have a habit of procrastinating writing assignments, write “with me” videos invite the viewer to join the creator as they work. These videos almost always include a variation of the phrase— “Write a 5- page case analysis w/ me” or “pull an all nighter with me while I write a 10- page essay.” One of the functions of this convention is to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the viewer, as they are brought along while the creator writes, experiences writer’s block, takes breaks, but ultimately completes their assignment in time. Similarly to the videos discussed above, these “with me” videos also center on writing under a deadline and thus emphasize the more concrete deliverables of their assignments. As such, the writing process is often made less visible in favor of frequent cuts and timestamps that show the progression toward a page or word count goal.

One of the most common effects of “with me” videos is to assure the viewer that procrastinating writing is part and parcel of the college experience. As the content creators grapple with and accept their own writing anxieties or deferring habits, they demonstrate for the viewer that it is possible to be both someone who struggles with writing and someone who can make progress on their papers. In this way, these videos suggest to students that they are not alone in their experiences; not only do other college students feel overwhelmed with writing or leave their papers until the day before they are due, but you can join a fellow student as they tackle the essay writing process. One popular video by @mercuryskid with over 6 million views follows them working on a 6000 word essay for which they have received several extensions, and although they don’t finish by the end of the video, their openness about the struggles they experience while writing may explain its appeal. 

Indeed, in several videos of this kind the creator centers their procrastination as a means of inviting the viewer in; often the video will include the word in the title, such as “write 2 essays due at 11:59 tonight with me because I am a chronic procrastinator” or “write the literature essay i procrastinated with me.” Because of this, establishing a peer connection with the hypothetical viewer is paramount; @itskamazing’s video in which she writes a five page paper in three hours ends with her telling the viewer, “If you’re in college, you’re doing great. Let’s just knock this semester out.” One video titled “Writing essays doesn’t need to be stressful” shows a college-aged creator explaining what tactics she uses for outlining and annotating research to make sure she feels prepared when she begins to write in earnest. Throughout, she directly hails the viewer as “you” and attempts to cultivate a sense of familiarity with the person on the other side of the screen; in some moments her advice feels like listening in on a one-sided Writing Center session.

A second aspect of these “with me” videos is an intense focus on the specifics of a writing task. The titles of these videos usually follow a formula that invites the viewer with the writer as they write X amount in X time, paralleling the structure of how-to-write videos. The emphasis here, due to the last-minute nature of the writing contexts, is always on speed: “write a 2000- word essay with me in 4.5 hours” or “Join me as I write a 10- page essay that is due at 11:59pm.” Since these videos often need to cover large swaths of time during which the creator is working, there are several jumps forward in time, sped up footage, and text stamps or zoom-ins that update the viewer on how many pages or words the writer has completed since the last update. Overall, this brand of content demonstrates how product-focused writers become when large amounts of writing are completed in a single setting. However, it also makes this experience seem more manageable to viewers, as we frequently see writers in videos take naps and breaks during these high-stakes writing sessions. Furthermore, although the writers complain and appear stressed throughout, these videos tend to close with the writer submitting their papers and celebrating their achievement.

Although these videos may send mixed messages to college students using TikTok who experience struggles with writing productivity, they can be helpful for viewers as they demonstrate the shared nature of these struggles and concerns. Despite the overarching emphasis on the finished product, the documentary-style of this content shows how writing can be a fraught process. For tutors or those removed from the experience of being in college, these videos also illuminate some of the reasons students procrastinate writing; we see creators juggling part-time jobs, other due dates, and family obligations. This genre of TikToks shows the power that social media platforms have due to the way they can amplify the shared experience of students.

To conclude, I gesture toward a few of the takeaways that #essay and #collegewriting TikTok might provide for those who work in Writing Centers, especially those who frequently encounter students who struggle with procrastination. First, because TikTok is a video-sharing platform, the content often shows a mixture of writing process and product. Despite a heavy emphasis in these videos on the finished product that a writer turns in to be graded, several videos necessarily also reveal the steps that go into writing, even marathon sessions the night before a paper is due. We primarily see forward progress but we also see false starts and deletions; we mostly see the writer once they have completed pre-writing tasks but we also see analyzing a prompt, outlining, and brainstorming. Additionally, this genre of TikTok is instructive in that it shows how often students wait until before a paper is due to begin and just how many writers are working solely to meet a deadline or deliverable. While as Writing Center workers we cannot do much to shift this mindset, we can make a more considerable effort to focus on time management and executive functioning skills in our sessions. Separating the essay writing process into manageable chunks or steps appears to be a skill that college students are already seeking to develop independently when they engage on social media, and Writing Centers are equipped to help students refine these habits. Finally, it is worth considering the potential for university Writing Center TikTok accounts. A brief survey of videos created by Writing Center staff reveals that they draw on similar themes and tend to emphasize product and deliverables—for example, a video titled “a passing essay grade” that shows someone going into the center and receiving an A+ on a paper. Instead, these accounts could create a space for Writing Centers to actively contribute to the discourse on college writing that currently occupies the app and create content that parallels a specific Writing Center or campus’s values.

Holly Berkowitz is the Coordinator of the Writing and Communication Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She recently received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also worked at the UW-Madison Writing Center. Although she does not post her own content, she is an avid consumer of TikTok videos.

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Ai-powered essay writing takes over tiktok: how writego is leading the trend.

TikTok is more than just a platform for dance challenges and viral memes—it's also becoming a hub for educational content and innovative tech solutions. One of the latest trends on TikTok is AI-powered essay writing, which has captivated students and educators alike. This article delves into how AI essay writing tools, particularly WriteGo, are making waves on TikTok and transforming the writing landscape.

The TikTok Phenomenon and AI Essays

TikTok’s short-form video format is perfect for showcasing quick tips, hacks, and tech innovations. Recently, creators have been sharing their experiences with AI essay writing tools, generating millions of views and sparking discussions about the future of writing.

Benefits of AI Essay Tools on TikTok

• Instant Demonstrations : TikTok videos can quickly demonstrate the capabilities of AI writing tools, showing how essays are generated in real-time.
• Educational Content : Educators and students are using TikTok to share how AI tools can aid in academic writing, providing valuable insights and tutorials.
• Engagement : The platform’s interactive nature allows users to ask questions, share feedback, and learn from each other’s experiences with AI essay tools.

WriteGo: The Ultimate AI Essay Writing Tool

As AI essay tools gain popularity on TikTok, WriteGo stands out for its advanced features and user-friendly design. Here’s why WriteGo is the preferred choice:

• User-Friendly Interface : WriteGo’s intuitive design makes it easy for anyone to generate high-quality essays.
• Fast and Efficient : WriteGo’s AI can produce well-structured essays in a matter of minutes, saving users time and effort.
• Customization Options : Users can tailor the generated content to meet their specific needs, ensuring the final essay is unique and personalized.
• Educational Support : WriteGo provides resources and tips to help users make the most of the AI tool, enhancing their writing skills.

Why TikTok Users Love WriteGo

Real-time essay generation.

TikTok creators can showcase WriteGo’s real-time essay generation, highlighting its speed and efficiency.

Accessible for All

WriteGo’s AI essay writing tool is accessible to everyone, making professional-grade writing assistance available to students, educators, and professionals.

Engaging Content

The ease of use and impressive results make WriteGo a popular topic for engaging TikTok content, attracting a wide audience interested in educational technology.

Conclusion: Embrace the Future of Writing with WriteGo

As TikTok continues to influence trends in education and technology, AI essay writing tools like WriteGo are becoming indispensable. Whether you’re a student looking for a quick way to generate essays or an educator seeking innovative teaching tools, WriteGo is the ideal solution.

Join the TikTok trend and discover how WriteGo can revolutionize your writing process.

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6 TikTok Hacks for More Productive Dissertation Writing

Published by Owen Ingram at August 2nd, 2023 , Revised On October 5, 2023

Writing a dissertation can feel overwhelming. There’s a great deal of information to process and a seemingly endless number of tasks to manage. But what if you could harness the power of TikTok to help you through this mammoth task? Yes, you guessed right.

In this article, we’ll explore six clever TikTok hacks that can make your dissertation writing experience more productive and less stressful. And if you’re the one creating study content, consider exploring how to buy real TikTok views to reach a wider audience with your academic brilliance! Either way, let’s dive right in!

1. Tap into the #StudyTok Community

The #StudyTok tag is brimming with tips, tricks, and inspiration to help you ace your dissertation. This thriving community is not only supportive but also chock-full of practical advice from those who have been in your shoes. Engage with the community, ask questions, and share your journey. The best part? You’ll find comfort in knowing you’re not alone in your struggles.

2. Use Pomodoro Technique Videos

As we move along, let’s discuss time management, a crucial aspect of dissertation writing. Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It’s a method of breaking work into intervals, typically 25 minutes long, separated by short breaks. This hack is designed to combat procrastination and promote focus. Many TikTok users share live videos of their own “Pomodoro sessions,” providing you with real-time study companionship. Look for these videos, set your timer, and get to writing!

3. Learn from Writing Tips and Hacks

Next up are the writing tips and hacks that abound on TikTok. Users share innovative techniques for creating outlines, structuring arguments, citing sources, and more. Some of these may be applicable to your specific needs. So why not take a short break from your work, browse the app, and perhaps discover a writing hack that could revolutionize your approach to your dissertation?

4. Leverage TikTok for Stress Relief

Now, let’s not forget the toll a dissertation can take on your mental well-being. Stress relief is just as essential to your productivity as good writing habits. TikTok is home to a wide range of content that can help you unwind. Consider watching a few light-hearted videos or even partaking in a short yoga session between your Pomodoro rounds. It can do wonders for your mental reset and prepare you for your next writing sprint.

5. Apply Motivational Content

Dissertation writing can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. If you find your motivation waning, TikTok can provide a much-needed boost. Numerous users share their success stories, motivational quotes, and uplifting messages that can rekindle your determination. Such content can act as a gentle reminder of your potential and the value of your hard work.

6. Seek Dissertation-Specific Advice

Last but not least, look for TikTok videos from academics and educators that provide specific dissertation advice. Whether it’s guidance on literature reviews, data analysis, or viva preparation, you’re likely to find it on TikTok. Remember, some of the users sharing such content have been through the dissertation process themselves, and their insights can be invaluable.

Also, read about the top 5 online summarizers available for students

While TikTok may primarily be a source of entertainment for many, it can also serve as a tool for productivity. These six hacks show that you can use the platform to your advantage when writing your dissertation. So, don’t hesitate to explore these avenues, absorb what you find useful, and incorporate them into your process. With a little creativity and a pinch of TikTok magic, your dissertation journey might just become a little less daunting.

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Mixing cleaning products can create chemical warfare gas: The Cleantok hacks to avoid

• Some TikTok cleaning hacks can be dangerous for your health and your belongings.
• Experts say to avoid overloading your toilet with cleaning products, running water through toasters and filling your air fryer with soapy water.
• Other popular CleanTok hacks to approach with caution include couch cleaning with a pot lid microfiber towel and Tide Pods and filling your toilet tank with Fabuloso.

The plethora of cleaning videos on TikTok can be mesmerizing and inspiring, from scrubbing ASMR to novel hacks for # SundayReset .

Some of those hacks can be used for regular spring cleaning, as one professional house cleaner previously told USA TODAY. She has been sprinkling baking soda on upholstery and mattresses to draw out odors for years (and she lets the kids jump on the bed to help!)

But experts say that a few of the #CleanTok trends have gone too far, and can even be dangerous for your health and your belongings.

Here are a few #CleanTok hacks to avoid, according to House Digest experts :

More: We tried these easy cleaning hacks and they're life-changing

Overloading your toilet with cleaning products

Some Tiktokers get creative and artistic with the #ToiletOverload trend, mixing powders and colorful liquids in the toilet bowl.

Mixing cleaning products at all can be dangerous, as the chemical combinations can release harmful gasses.

According to the National Capital Poison Center:

• Mixing bleach and ammonia makes chloramine gas, which causes coughing.
• Mixing bleach with an acidic cleaner releases chlorine gas, which was used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I.

Even if you're wearing a mask, jamming your toilet with chemicals could be bad for your plumbing.

"Flushing an excessive amount of cleaning products down your toilet can result in you having to call a professional plumber to fix the damage caused by it," Joseph Wade, vice president of operations at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing told House Digest. "An excessive amount of chemicals can not only clog but also damage the pipes that they pass through."

Using water to clean your cooking appliances

House Digest said some people have been running water through toasters to clean them. But doing so can damage electrical components, and become a safety hazard, Katie Dills of The Cleaning Authority told House Digest.

Some TikTok videos also suggest filling the cooking compartment of an air fryer with soapy water and turning it on as a self-cleaning method.

"That's just a way to get soapy water into the fan system and destroy your air fryer, said TikToker and House Digest expert and TikToker Carly Castro .

Other popular CleanTok hacks to approach with caution

According to House Digest, these are the other popular CleanTok hacks that homeowners should approach with caution.

• Couch cleaning with a pot lid microfiber towel and Tide Pods. Check to ensure you're using the proper cleaning agent that won't damage the fabric.
• Do not fill your toilet tank with Fabuloso or any other all-purposes cleaners.

TikTok Hackers Target Paris Hilton, CNN, and More. What to Know About the Cyberattack

H ackers have targeted several high-profile TikTok accounts, including that of reality TV star Paris Hilton, media company CNN, and entertainment group Sony.

“Our security team is aware of a potential exploit targeting a number of high-profile accounts,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement shared with TIME. “We have taken measures to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future.”

Jason Grosse, a spokesperson for TikTok’s privacy and security team, elaborated further in a phone call with TIME. He shared that Hilton’s account was targeted but not compromised. However, CNN’s account was compromised as a result of the hack.

Grosse said that the app is working to get CNN’s account back up and running and safeguard the media company from further attacks through “enhanced security measures.”

Though Grosse said the app is not publicizing the exact number of accounts affected, he says their investigations indicate that the cyberattack is only targeting a small number of high-profile accounts, and standard (non high-profile) users will likely not be targeted.

Per Grosse, the attack specifically took place through direct messaging features, and is known as a “zero-day exploit.” A zero-day exploit refers to a cyberattack that takes advantage of unknown security flaws in software.

The U.S. government is already concerned with TikTok privacy and security issues, albeit more so in relation to its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, and the possibility that it could share user data with China’s government. 

In April, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if the social media platform’s China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake within a year. However, in May, TikTok fought back and sued the U.S. government over the ban, stating that it is unconstitutional. That same month, eight TikTok creators joined the app in filing suit over the ban, stating that they rely on TikTok to express themselves, learn, and find community.

In other TikTok-related news, former President Donald Trump recently decided to finally join the social media platform as the 2024 election campaign ramps up. The decision likely surprised many, as Trump famously tried to ban the app during his presidency. President Biden’s campaign also joined TikTok this February in an apparent attempt to connect with younger voters.

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Can TikTok’s “Loud Budgeting” Hack Help You Save Money?

No FOMO here.

When you hang out with your friends, you probably expect to spend some money. Whether you’re buying rounds of drinks, movie tickets, clothes, dinner — or just putting gas in your car to get to your destination — the cost adds up fast, especially if you have pushy pals who encourage you to spend beyond your means. It’s why socializing and budgeting rarely go hand in hand. When you’re trying to save money , it can be tough to figure out how to strike a balance.

Instead of being honest about your current budget, you might give an awkward excuse to stay home or give in and allow yourself to overspend on a wild night out, but it doesn’t have to be that way. To stop the cycle of shame — and to help you save more cash — TikTok’s loud budgeting trend encourages you to speak up and set firm boundaries, all without overthinking, lying, or feeling an ounce of guilt.

“Loud budgeting is about getting clear about financial limits, goals, and priorities, and not being afraid to talk about it,” says Ashley Rittershaus , a CFP professional and founder of Curious Crow Financial Planning . The topic of money can feel taboo , she tells Bustle, but this trend is here to flip the script.

In a viral TikTok posted on Dec. 29 of last year, creator @lukasbattle explained that loud budgeting is the opposite of quiet luxury . “Loud budgeting isn’t about ‘I don’t have enough,’” he said in his video, which now has over 180,000 likes. “It’s about ‘I don’t want to spend.’”

It’s essentially an emboldening mindset shift that helps you stand up to friends and social pressures, but it’s also a good trick for anyone looking to save. Here’s what to know about the loud budgeting trend, and how to try it.

How To Practice Loud Budgeting

If you’re wondering what loud budgeting looks like in practice, picture yourself turning down a friend’s invite to an expensive restaurant while also letting them know why the cost of the outing won’t fit with your current financial goals. According to Rittershaus, the extra dose of honesty will help you stick to your boundaries.

If you want, you could offer a cheaper alternative, like inviting them over instead. But to truly loud budget you often have to get a little cheeky, just like @lukasbattle. “If your friend texts you ‘I want to hang out’ you say ‘I don’t want to spend gas money on coming to hear you talk about your ex for three hours,’” he said in his TikTok. Instead of being wishy-washy, you’re supposed to get sassy and tell it like it is.

Here’s why: Being loud about your budget makes your goals crystal clear to everyone in the vicinity, and that in turn helps you stay accountable, says Rittershaus. The hardcore honesty will also make your friends less likely to pressure you into spending beyond your means or goals.

If a friend tries to talk you into buying something, like a pricy vacation or tickets to a show at an expensive venue, creator @libbybonthelabel suggests explaining to them exactly why you won’t be spending the money . While you’d usually say, “Sorry, I can’t afford that” or “Oh... I don’t know...” the loud-budgeting version of you will say, “Absolutely not. I need to set aside $4,000 by November to pay for a new car.” Details — and a little drama — are tougher to argue with than simply saying “no.”

Creator @jadewarshaw also loves this trend, and she added an extra layer. She said you can also loud budget with yourself , too, by getting real about why you’re saving money, how much you hope to save, and what your goals are for the future. In her comments, someone said, “It’s like going debt-free is the newest cool thing. Finally!”

Who Should Try Loud Budgeting?

Loud budgeting can take some practice if you’re used to being awkward or hush-hush about your money , but Rittershaus says it’s so beneficial, especially if you tend to fold under pressure or spend beyond your means while out with friends.

“Loud budgeting can also be helpful for specific financial goals, too, like paying off debt , building an emergency fund, saving for a big purchase, or contributing to retirement accounts,” she says. It’s one of the best ways to save money quickly since you’ll be boldly protecting your paycheck.

Who knows? By being vocal about your financial goals, the people around you might even join you in cutting back and spending less. As Rittershaus says, “The only way we can normalize talking about money is to start talking about it more , even if it might be a little uncomfortable at first.”

Ashley Rittershaus , CFP® professional, founder of Curious Crow Financial Planning

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Guest Essay

Surgeon General: Parents Are at Their Wits’ End. We Can Do Better.

By Vivek H. Murthy

Dr. Murthy is the surgeon general.

One day when my daughter was a year old, she stopped moving her right leg. Tests found that she had a deep infection in her thigh that was dangerously close to her bone. She was rushed off to surgery. Thankfully, she’s now a healthy, spirited young girl, but the excruciating days we spent in the hospital were some of the hardest of my life. My wife, Alice, and I felt helpless and heartbroken. We got through it because of excellent medical care, understanding workplaces and loved ones who showed up and reminded us that we were not alone.

When I became a parent, a friend told me I was signing up for a lifetime of joy and worry. The joys are indeed abundant, but as fulfilling as parenting has been, the truth is it has also been more stressful than any job I’ve had. I’ve had many moments of feeling lost and exhausted. So many parents I encounter as I travel across America tell me they have the same experience: They feel lucky to be raising kids, but they are struggling, often in silence and alone.

The stress and mental health challenges faced by parents — just like loneliness , workplace well-being and the impact of social media on youth mental health — aren’t always visible, but they can take a steep toll. It’s time to recognize they constitute a serious public health concern for our country. Parents who feel pushed to the brink deserve more than platitudes. They need tangible support. That’s why I am issuing a surgeon general’s advisory to call attention to the stress and mental health concerns facing parents and caregivers and to lay out what we can do to address them.

A recent study by the American Psychological Association revealed that 48 percent of parents say most days their stress is completely overwhelming, compared with 26 percent of other adults who reported the same. They are navigating traditional hardships of parenting — worrying about money and safety, struggling to get enough sleep — as well as new stressors, including omnipresent screens, a youth mental health crisis and widespread fear about the future.

Stress is tougher to manage when you feel you’re on your own, which is why it’s particularly concerning that so many parents, single parents most of all, report feeling lonelier than other adults . Additionally, parents are stretched for time. Compared with just a few decades ago, mothers and fathers spend more time working and more time caring for their children , leaving them less time for rest, leisure and relationships. Stress, loneliness and exhaustion can easily affect people’s mental health and well-being. And we know that the mental health of parents has a direct impact on the mental health of children.

All of this is compounded by an intensifying culture of comparison, often amplified online, that promotes unrealistic expectations of what parents must do. Chasing these expectations while trying to wade through an endless stream of parenting advice has left many families feeling exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind.

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How TikTok can help you get better at studying

A growing group of educational influencers can help..

When you think of study aids, TikTok is likely not what comes to mind. And, there’s probably a good reason for that. Scrolling your For You page may be entertaining, but it’s rarely productive.

But, a growing group of study influencers might be changing that. From #booktok, #studytok and #edutok, there are dozens of accounts that can help with study tips, math tutoring and even college admissions advice.

To be clear, it’s still a good idea to limit how much time you spend scrolling. And watching study-themed TikToks is not a substitute for… actually studying. But, videos from academically-minded TikTokers can offer advice on learning tough subjects and serve as inspiration for building new and productive study habits.

What to look for (and avoid)

If you’re looking for study help, well-established hashtags like #studytok or #edutok are a great place to start. Many tutors also post to TikTok, and you can find subject-specific content by adding “tutor” or “help” to the topic, like #mathtuor, #physicshelp etc.

But, as with everything on TikTok, not all study content is equal. And for every helpful account, there are also those who are sharing unhelpful shortcuts and too-good-to-be-true “study hacks.” So avoid accounts that post shady “advice” that’s actually cheating, like how to get an AI to solve your math homework or write an essay for you. And be wary of anyone who is more focused on selling products than usable advice.

Here are a few accounts that actually do a good job in the studying space.

Gohar Khan Goharsguide

Gohar Khan is most well-known for his college admissions advice, which he shares on TikTok , Instagram and YouTube . The 22-year-old recently graduated from MIT, but before that he was also accepted to Yale and Stanford. Now, he makes videos advising teens on how they can boost their chances of getting into Ivy League and other top-tier schools.

He shares videos with advice on all aspects of preparing for college, from application and essay-writing help, to how to choose a major once you get there. Even if an Ivy isn’t your ultimate goal, he also posts more general tips that will be helpful for students of all levels, In fact, some of his most popular content is geared around how to do homework more quickly, how to find the motivation to study and how to improve your test scores .

Kyle Johnson

Book lovers will appreciate Kyle Johnson’s TikToks for his concise but thoughtful book reviews and reading recommendations, but Johnson, who posts under the account panic_kyle, shares more than just reading lists. He also shares analysis of literary classics and other popular books you may often find as assigned reading in English class..

If you’re looking for a shortcut to avoid reading altogether, Johnson’s account won’t help much. He typically only gives a very brief summary of the books he covers. But if you want to think more deeply about literary themes, or get inspiration for an essay, his videos break down complex literary themes in an easy to digest way. He also shares more general advice, like how to take notes while reading fiction or how to analyze literature.

Your Bummy Math Tutor

I was awful at math when I was in school. Like, truly, awful; I had to repeat algebra three separate times . To the surprise of absolutely no one, I did not score well on the math portion of my SAT… or any other standardized test. And while I don’t know if any amount of TikTok-length videos would have helped back then, Your Bummy Math Tutor’s content makes me think it might have.

YBMT takes math questions from the SAT and practice tests and explains how to solve them, along with strategies for approaching different types of problems. It’s all fairly straightforward and yet, as a lifetime hater of math, the content is also way more engaging than any math class I can remember. Luckily for everyone, I haven’t had to do any algebra for more than a decade. But after watching enough of YBMT’s videos, I kind of feel like maybe I could solve a few problems that would have completely stumped my teenage self. At least, I might have had a few extra tools to try.

Study with soybean

You’ve probably heard of bullet journaling, the note-taking fad that’s part habit tracker, part diary and part to-do list organizer. While it can seem intimidating to start mapping out your entire life in a bullet journal, the system can be a useful study aid.

Study with soybean is a bullet journal pro whose content combines journaling inspo with study tips practical advice on how to take better notes . Her videos break down different styles of note-taking, and how to transform your notes into flashcards and other study aids. She also posts more creative content, like how to make your own greeting cards and improve your handwriting.

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TikTok Hack Targets ‘High-Profile’ Users via DMs

TikTok says it's currently taking steps to mitigate a cyberattack that's targeting a number of high-profile users through direct messages, in an attempt to hijack their accounts.

“We have taken measures to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future. We're working directly with affected account owners to restore access, if needed,” says Jason Grosse, a spokesperson for TikTok ’s privacy and security team.

Grosse says TikTok is still investigating the attack and could not comment at this time about its scale or sophistication, describing the threat as merely a “potential exploit.”

TikTok’s acknowledgment followed a report on Tuesday claiming CNN's account had been temporarily breached last week. Citing an anonymous source at the news organization, Semafor reports that the breach did "not appear to be the result of someone gaining access from CNN's end." CNN did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request to comment.

Concerns over hacking attempts targeting news organizations in the US are particularly high given the impending presidential election this fall.

Forbes reported earlier in the day that the account of hotel heiress Paris Hilton was similarly affected, citing sources within the company. A source at TikTok tells WIRED that Hilton’s account was targeted but had not been compromised.

Security and privacy concerns around TikTok expand beyond cyberattacks by malicious actors. The company itself is fighting to remain available in the United States after US president Joe Biden signed a law in April that forces its parent company, China-based ByteDance, to sell TikTok or face a ban. TikTok and several users have sued the US government , claiming the law is unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds.

Update 3:30 pm ET, June 4, 2024: A TikTok spokesperson tells WIRED that the company has detected only two accounts compromised by the attack, including CNN’s.

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TikTok Study Hacks: What Works And What Doesn’t

On this page, 6 tiktok study hacks that don’t work, 4 study hacks that do, get ready for your overseas study adventure.

Topics covered

With the rise of TikTok popularity in recent years, you probably have an account and maybe even turn to it for entertainment and general tips – including study hacks.

While these study hacks you see on TikTok can seem cool, it is crucial to know which are the ones that can genuinely help. After all, you want to make every study session count!

To help you out, we dived into the world of TikTok videos and compiled a list of study hacks that work (and some that don’t), so you can identify the best study tips and hacks to help you score better without wasting your time!

1. Voice Typing

It could seem much faster and easier to use voice typing instead of taking notes while listening to your lectures. After all, many videos that suggest it show how effortless it can be.

However, voice typing isn’t the most effective method when it comes to studying.

This is because your notes would end up becoming too extensive and it could be a challenge to review those notes at a later time.

Although it might feel like a pain to take notes, it is actually one of the best study habits you can develop. This is because the action of writing notes can help you to remember things better . Hence, you’ll be able to recall important information during crucial times, such as your exams!

2. Watching Only Free Online Classes

While free online classes are widely available and can teach you a thing or two, they unfortunately only skim the surface when it comes to certain topics.

Hence, these online classes can never replace your school’s lectures and classes.

In fact, it would be counterproductive to skip class and watch a shorter video because you would not only be wasting your school fees but also the time spent watching the video if you don’t end up learning all there is to learn.

3. Relying Only On Answer Websites

This is one of the more popular study hacks you’ll see on Tiktok, however, it is actually one of the least effective.

Although answer websites have all the answers you need, simply getting the answers for your quiz or assignments without understanding will hurt rather than help your studying.

It may be convenient and easy to get answers off these websites, but this is a shortcut that will only help you at the moment. In the long term, you may struggle even more to handle future content or projects if you don’t genuinely learn or understand beyond the final answer.

4. Using Overly Complex Spreadsheets To Organize

Spreadsheets could seem like a great way to organize your notes or help with studying – and this is true, but only if you keep things simple and tidy.

If you don’t have a good system, your spreadsheets can potentially become complicated and difficult to navigate.

In the event you rely on these complex spreadsheets for your notes, you might end up spending more time trying to locate the content you’re seeking rather than studying and making the most of your time.

5. Overusing Flashcards To Memorize

Like spreadsheets, flashcards can actually be helpful – but only to a certain extent.

If you break up big concepts into limited content on flashcards, this would help your learning process when it comes to actively recalling what you’ve studied.

On the other hand, if you put too much information on each flashcard, it can hinder your learning process by causing unnecessary information overload. Also, attempting to cram all your flashcards in one session would backfire and you wouldn’t be able to retain the information.

6. Speedwrite AI For Article Writing

When writing articles, it is true that Speedwrite AI will be able to help you to generate text and paraphrase.

However, the catch is that you will not have many options when it comes to showcasing your creativity, tone and style. Hence, this could make your article seem bland and not get you a high score.

Also, as you will not pick up crucial writing skills if you simply rely on Speedwrite AI, you definitely don’t benefit much in the long run.

1. Memory Hack

To remember things more clearly, it helps to “test” yourself and review your notes over and over at increasing intervals of time.

For example, testing yourself when the information is fresh in your mind and then doing so again a few hours and even the morning after.

This memory hack brings about a memory phenomenon called the spacing effect , which helps the brain learn more effectively.

2. Create Your Virtual Study Space

Setting up your own virtual study space can keep you accountable as you’d be studying alongside other students who are in that space with you.

Knowing that there are others in there with you could motivate you to not procrastinate and the best part is that you wouldn’t be able to physically speak to each other so there are no distractions.

3. Pomodoro Technique For Better Concentration

The Pomodoro Technique involves working for a specific amount of time and then taking a break. For example, 50 minutes of studying followed by a 10-minute break.

During these breaks, you can take a toilet break or perhaps refill your coffee.

This is particularly effective because having much-needed breaks in the midst of all that studying can help you to reset your mind and you’ll be less likely to get distracted.

4. ‘Study With Me’ Channels

If you struggle to focus when studying alone, ‘Study With Me’ channels can be a great way to keep you on track.

Having that personal, quiet atmosphere with someone else studying along with you can also make you feel like you’re doing this together with a friend.

As some of these study live streams are scheduled, it could also help bring structure to your study time.

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People On TikTok Are Sharing Life Hacks, So We Tried 7 Of The Most Viral Ones

TikTokers are sharing life hacks, so we decided to test out the most viral ones!

BuzzFeed Staff Writer

BuzzFeed Staff

Raise your hand if you watch a lot of TikTok!

Raise your hand if you'd like to learn something useful from tiktok, well, you're in the right place we're daniella and farrah — two people who watch way too much tiktok. we noticed a trend of people posting certain ~life hacks~ on tiktok and thought, whoa, that's kind of cool. but does it work so we chose eight of the most viral tiktok hacks and tried them out for ourselves.

A lot of us have that one pair of jeans that fit our legs just fine but are too damn big in the waist. This hack is the beltless solution that combats that issue. It has 8.9 *MILLION* views on TikTok and was posted by @viluong .

@viluong this hack has changed my life #lifehack #diyhack #hack #highwaistjeans #highwaistedjeans #jeans ♬ Opaul - Freddie Dredd

Here's a breakdown of how it's supposed to work:

And here's what happened when we tried it! The original TikTok is on the right, and our re-creation is on the left.

@farrahpenn #duet with viluong ♬ Opaul - Freddie Dredd

You betcha! Our friend Shelby wore the same pair of loose jeans two days in a row because we forgot to record her doing it the first time, so shoutout to her for being an outfit-repeating trouper. The zipper area looks a little slanted, but it's not glaringly noticeable!

She said it made them fit A LOT better!

We were pretty perplexed when we stumbled upon this TikTok of a guy blow-drying his Oreo cookie, causing the cream to expand! It has 1.6 *MILLION* views on TikTok and was posted by @rickylax .

@rickylax COOKIE CREAM HACK #oreo #hack #weird #random ♬ Falling - Trevor Daniel

Here's a diagram of what this David Duchovny lookalike did with his Oreo:

And here's what happened when we tried it out. The original TikTok is on the right, and our re-creation is on the left.

@farrahpenn #duet with rickylax ♬ Falling - Trevor Daniel

No :(. All we got out of this was a couple of burned fingers from the intense heat of the blow-dryer. After exploring the comments section, we realized that he probably put a marshmallow between the two Oreo cookies and pressed down on it, then released it. Cruel.

Us after trying this "hack": 🤡 🤡 🤡

We're both pretty short, so when we saw this hack about shortening long leggings to create a better fit, we knew we had to try it. It has 670,100 views on TikTok and was posted by @runliftmom .

@runliftmom Where my #shortgirls at?! #shortgirlproblems #shortgirlcheck #hack #fashionhacks #tiktokfashion #runliftmom #lifehacks #simplehacks #shorty ♬ Wait Another Day - Mike Williams x Mesto

Here's a closer look at what she did:

And here's what happened when we tried it. The original TikTok is on the right, and our re-creation is on the left.

@farrahpenn #duet with runliftmom ♬ Wait Another Day - Mike Williams x Mesto

Sure? We don't really think it required such detailed instruction. You can pull your leggings up and then just tuck the bottom part under without calculating how many inches! But if you're short and don't like the bunchy look at the bottom of your leggings, it's a quick fix that works.

We both audibly gasped when we saw this easy breakfast quesadilla hack by @saucedupfoods . They basically present an easier way of making a perfect breakfast quesadilla with minimal cleanup. It gained 1.8 *MILLION* views on TikTok, so obviously we had to try it for ourselves.

@saucedupfoods You’ll never make breakfast the same way. #foru #foruyou #breakfast #quesadilla #eggs #tacobell #bacon ♬ Ocean Floor - Cyril Hahn Remix - Teen Daze

Here's a closer look at what they did:

THE CHEESE IS THE GLUE.

@farrahpenn #duet with saucedupfoods #breakfasthack ♬ Ocean Floor - Cyril Hahn Remix - Teen Daze

Yes! You just have to make sure your eggs aren't too runny before you flip. (Farrah cooked on medium-low heat for about six minutes.) It's incredibly easy AND really, really delicious. Plus, you don't get an eggy mess in your pan that's no fun to clean up.

Even though we know how to use chopsticks, we acknowledge that there are many of y'all out there who are still trying to learn! So when we saw this hack on how to make kiddy chopsticks, we decided to give it a try. It has 2.3 *MILLION* views on TikTok and was posted by @harrisonfriedman .

@harrisonfriedman The only thing paper straws are good for 🙄 ♬ original sound - harrisonfriedman

Here's what they did:

And here's our embarrassing attempt at trying it. The original TikTok is on the right, and our re-creation is on the left.

@farrahpenn #duet with harrisonfriedman ♬ original sound - harrisonfriedman

Not for us, unfortunately! The paper straw broke in half. That's not to say it wouldn't work with a different type of paper straw and gentler hands, though! Please give it a shot if you're interested.

Anyone who's ever been to grade school is familiar with the predicament of a dull mechanical-pencil eraser. TBH, it's debilitating. So we knew we had to give this eraser hack a shot. It has 1.6 *MILLION* views and was posted by @zuhayrkhan0 .

@zuhayrkhan0 You’re #welcome. #fyp #foryou #foryourpage #lifehack #lifehacks #school #challenge #CozyLittleChristmas #greenscreenvideo #SyrupTurnUp #makeitfestive ♬ No Idea - Don Toliver

Here's a closer look at their technique:

@farrahpenn #duet with zuhayrkhan0 ♬ No Idea - Don Toliver

Yes! Here's to making mechanical pencils last A LOT longer. Kind of lame that they try to play us like that, though.

When we saw this hack about being able to charge your AirPods by sticking them on the corner of your MacBook, we were definitely skeptical. But hey, ya never know what kind of magical tricks exist out there, so we gave it a shot. It has 774,000 views and was posted by @yourmadda .

@yourmadda Pretty useful life hack ♬ original sound - yourmadda

@farrahpenn #duet with yourmadda ♬ original sound - yourmadda

Nope! AirPods definitely can't charge this way. We're just gonna have to stick to using our normal chargers for now. But on the bright side, we learned a great trick for not losing our AirPods.

Us — AGAIN — after falling for a "hack": 🤡 🤡 🤡

While people post a ton of useful and interesting content on TikTok, there are also things that just don't work. We're glad we tried all these because we learned a LOT. Now please excuse us while we go make another breakfast quesadilla.

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