User:Hannah.hrm/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
TikTok

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
I chose this article because Tiktok is a major platform for communication and is currently one of the trendiest, most used social media platforms for teenagers and young adults. I want to evaluate the information and background knowledge being displayed for the world to view to make sure that it is communicated clearly and correctly.

Evaluate the article
The lead is very clearly written and provides a good insight as to whats to come later in the article.

In terms of content, I appreciate that the information presented in this article in the history section is dated chronologically, however, I feel as though it is a little patchy due to this. If there were connecting transition points, I think that this could improve the flow of this section. I really enjoy how this article represents the full picture of the influence of the app including publicity, trends, marketing, influence, and the concerns of bullying and addiction. The order in which these are presented flows well and creates a well rounded picture of what tiktok is, its role in a functioning society, and the benefits and challenges that arise with a new social media platform that is used across the world.

The authors do a good job of presenting information as fact from sources and providing all sides to the pros and cons of tiktoks platform as well as the legality behind the logistics of the app. The discussion could easily turn political, and I think that is a weakness that is slightly peaking through in the text. A lot of attention is given to the statements and rumors from people in positions of power regarding the politics of the app.

The sources in this article range in date from 2017 to 2023 which is the lifespan of tiktok in its popularity thus far. I think the sources are used correctly and powerfully to drive home the principle of the information being backed by multiple references. There is a total of 338 references for this article ranging in publication from US news channels to international articles, but I do challenge the idea that there are 338 reliable and valid articles of research on the topic of Tiktok. I think that some references are more reliable than others, however, I do appreciate the diverse research used to write this piece from as many perspectives as possible.

The images used help to understand geographically what part of the world the article is referring to, although I think that providing images of what tiktok looks like from a user perspective would add additional insight to the function of the app and understanding of the content of the article. I think that since Tiktok is such a trendy platform, the wikipedia article should aesthetically represent that platform better, the images are lacking in appeal factor and more images could be added throughout the text. This would better appeal to the audience that is most likely reading this page.

Interestingly enough, this article is rated as a C-class and is listed as a level-5 vital article in society as well as being listed in the Top 50 Report in 2019 as well as the weekly Top 25 Report 2 times in 2019. One comment made was that this article lacks a section on the community guidelines of tiktok. I didn't realize the lack of information in this category, which is a huge part of the user experience on this platform. I think this comment was insightful and would benefit to the value of the article.

Overall, I think that this article does a good job of spreading knowledge on what tiktok is, its impact in the world, and possible consequences (good or bad) of the app. I do think that it uses a lot of space and words to describe the political background of the app and could potentially use some of that space to include more user information such as community guidelines and video features that add to the user experience and function of the app. While it is important to understand what is going on politically behind the scenes, the article feeds into the "drama" of the rumors, statements, and trends revolving around tiktoks existence. I think that this article is in the process of being fully developed, and with a few adjustments, it could be close to complete.