By David Ulloa Jr.
For the sake of preventing argument, I have used the term “Latine” in the majority of this article.
I dipped my toes. Then I dove headfirst into what I can only describe as “Latine TikTok.”
It started with the comedic Tik Toks about living with a Hispanic mom, by Latine creators such as Basi (@basii_17). Then I jumped into the beautiful, creative, powerful rabbit hole that is Latine TikTok.
After I engaged with a few Latine Tik Toks, I started receiving recommendations for different Latino creators. The recommendations were more than just people dancing in front of a camera to the latest Bad Bunny album.
When I say I was getting recommendations for different creators, I was receiving an entire spectrum of creators.
I’m sure this side of Tik Tok had been there long before I joined the app, but, for me, it was a whole new world.
They ranged from Latine chefs to historians to dancers and everything in between.
At first, I didn’t give much thought to the change in my feed. I just thought “Well, that’s cool, it looks like my feed is more Latine.”
After I went on a TikTok hiatus for a few weeks, my feed changed and I started receiving less content from Latine creators. It was at that moment that I started to give it more thought.
I began to ask myself, “What happened to memes about having a Mexican mom? Where are my salsa recipes?”
Then I realized that if I wanted to keep Latine content on my TikTok, I have to, as the YouTubers say, “Hit that like button and subscribe.” So I did.
And it worked.
I started by subscribing to comedic creators such as Basi (@basii_17) and Uriel Anthony (@uriel_a), but it was still not Latine enough for me.
So, I started following Mexican/Mexican-American brands and artists such as Brown N Proud LA (@brownnproudla) and Color a la Mexicana (@coloralamexicana).
My feed of Latine creators grew from there and stayed that way because this time, I was liking and subscribing to Latine creators.
Now, I can give you a long and dramatic article about how I was adamant to have Latine creators on my feed because as a Chicano, I want to support my community. Which is true, but it’s not the whole truth.
Simply said, I wanted to go back down the rabbit hole because the wonderland that is Latine TikTok had good content.
It was genuinely entertaining, and if I am going to spend hours on TikTok, I want to be entertained.
If it means I’m helping out my community while I’m there, then that is a cherry on top.
I am on Latine TikTok because it is an opportunity to see rising Latine artists and learn a little bit more about my culture, whether it is through recipes or, believe it or not, through memes.
What more can be said about Latine Tik Tok?
There’s memes, funny skits, educational videos, recipes and videos that I’m not even sure how to classify.
It’s so diverse.
It’s so fun.
Where else are you going to find out how to make “agua de tuna” (prickly pear fruit juice)?
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