While working from home has been an option for some people in some jobs over the years, the COVID pandemic in 2020 made it a reality for millions of employees across many industries. Today, about 35% of U.S. workers are still working in a remote job, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Another trend that's become popular recently is using TikTok — and it’s believed that over 150 million people in the U.S. are active on the social media app.
The 28-year-old from Central Florida said she’s been working from home for eight years and goes live Monday through Friday from around 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. She continued, "We’ll do the ‘pomodoro method,’ which is working for 30–35 minutes focused time no distractions, and then take a break for 5–6 minutes and talk with each other." Flick said this helps her stay focused and productive throughout the day.
She added, "My boss doesn’t see any harm in it." Dr. Karen Fortuna, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, said TikTok has a unique position in this situation. "TikTok has the potential to enhance the remote work experience by tapping into the psychological aspect of accountability," she said.
Personal inquiries from colleagues encourage accountability to people rather than AI-automated inquiries, fostering real-time goal-setting, task alignment and team cohesion," she said. Another TikTok user who frequently goes live to share her working space with others is Holly Ho, a 30-year-old small business owner from Seattle, Washington. Ho said she’s been working from home since 2019.