✨Today I went somewhere that’s green✨ where to next? ##florida ##fyp ##tampa ##stpetersburg ##botanicalgarden
While working for Suncoast Watersports on St. Pete Beach last year, Caulin Donaldson would see garbage left behind in the sand.
TikTok was an app he used as a fun distraction. He began posting videos of the litter he found. Donaldson, 24, has now documented his beach cleanups for more than 230 consecutive days. His 587,000+ TikTok followers know him as TrashCaulin.
He also credits the TikTok algorithm with helping him get his eco-friendly message out, and is disappointed to hear that the app might go away right after TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer announced a $200 million Creator Fund that could help fund his educational videos.
“It really gave a voice to anybody to show and create,” he said.
Donaldson is skeptical of Instagram Reels. With TikTok, he could open the app and instantly escape with a bottomless selection of videos tailored to his interests. Having to open Instagram means getting distracted by posts and stories. It also means his content could get lost.
Still, he plans to give the platform’s new feature a try.
“I think that they have a really good way of taking things that already exist and making it their own and kind of almost upgrading it, so I’m super open,” he said. “I already seen a beta version and I can tell it’s pretty close to how TikTok is put together. So I think it’ll be very interesting competition”
DAY 236/365. I CANT BELIEVE HOW BEAUTIFUL THE SKY LOOKED THIS MORNING ?⛅️ Did you pick up any trash today?? ##trash ##beach ##savetheearth
St. Petersburg-based blogger Emily Croslin, 23, has been a content creator on Instagram for a few years. While her lifestyle and fashion posts are more successful on Instagram, TikTok has been a fun place to experiment and get in front of a new audience.
“I personally am really excited about Instagram reels because I feel like TikTok has been a little more difficult,” she said. “I had a couple videos become super successful overnight, and then I woke up to thousands of followers, whereas Instagram has always been very steady but slow burn.”
Crolin is most interested in seeing how Reels compares to Instagram’s existing IGTV, which allows users to upload longer videos. When that platform was launched, she decided to lean into that instead of starting a YouTube channel.
“I was able to work within the constraints of Instagram and I was already very comfortable with Instagram,” Croslin said. “So I think that it could be the same thing with Reels.”
She is also excited to tap into her already-engaged Instagram audience. But she will miss getting inspiration from other TikTok users if the app goes away.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the app since quarantine started. I actually do see it as a place that sparks creativity for me,” Croslin said. “I know there’s been like a lot of TikToks about photoshoot ideas or tips for bloggers, things like that. So I’ve kind of looked towards it as a space to learn.”
morning in my life: working, editing photos, peloton, playing with corgi, & more!##contentcreator ##corgipuppy ##ThisIsBliss ##OutfitChange ##GetFit ##corgi
Offbeat Florida and Nostalgia Reporter