How TikTok is helping pet adoption

The pandemic may have locked us in our homes in 2020, but TikTok certainly let loose our creative instincts on the internet. From dance enthusiasts to artists, home chefs and novice fashionistas, TikTok has created a platform for all to shine.  

But did you know who else is benefiting from TikTok’s growing popularity? A whole bunch of rescue furries benefiting thanks from the boons of bite-sized video content! 

One of our amazing member rescue groups, Onyx rescue has jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to help advertise their pets to thousands of Australian users. We absolutely love it when our member rescue groups use technology in a number of innovative ways to promote awareness about rescue and pet behaviour.

“TikTok has great scope to further the public's education regarding matters of animal welfare, including furthering their understanding of animal behaviour,” said Naomi, the founder of Onyx Rescue.

Since its inception, TikTok has amassed 689 million users worldwide. 

“The TikTok algorithm works differently to that of other social media platforms in that it has the potential for a wider reach even without a strong following. While other platforms enable people to see content for which they've directly signed up or content that is shared by a network contact, TikTok sends out content to individuals on a national or even global scale via their 'For You Page' in addition to showing content to individuals who elect to directly follow a page.”

Onyx Rescue’s TikTok page, which has raked in over 8,000 followers already, regularly features their adorable pets for adoption and short pet behaviour tips.

@onyxrescue

##onyxrescue ##poochon ##dogrescue ##fyp

♬ original sound - Ethan Patterson

@onyxrescue

##onyxrescue ##fyp ##rescuedog

♬ From Now On - Hugh Jackman & The Greatest Showman Ensemble

Not only does this bring adoptable pets to the fingertips of TikTok’s largest user demographic, millennials and gen-zers, but also shines the cyber spotlight on struggling or hard-to-rehome pets.

TikTok’s incidental reach

Naomi points out that because of TikTok’s format, users can get invested in videos even if they weren’t searching for that particular information, to begin with. This is a huge benefit when try to raise awareness about rescue and adoption as all videos get an equal opportunity to reach a large audience.

@onyxrescue

##duet with @penelopedolce ##onyxrescue ##duet ##abcds ##rescuedogs ##dogfunny ##fyp ##fypシ ##fypfunny ##schipperke ##dogduet

♬ original sound - Penelope Dolce

“TikTok has great scope to further the public's education regarding matters of animal welfare, including furthering their understanding of animal behaviour. Unlike some other social media platforms, each video has a time limit of sixty seconds or less. Through this platform information can be delivered in quick and engaging bites and due to each video's brevity, people are more willing to invest in the material.”

How TikTok competes with other social media platforms to advertise pets

“The TikTik algorithm works differently to that of other social media platforms in that it has the potential for a wider reach even without a strong following. While other platforms enable people to see content for which they've directly signed up or content that is shared by a network contact, TikTok sends out content to individuals on a national or even global scale via their 'For You Page' in addition to showing content to individuals who elect to directly follow a page.” said Naomi.

Are you on TikTok? Be sure to check out the cute crowd on Onyx Rescue!

Donate to Onyx Rescue amazing work here.