Skip to content

TikTok

organization · in 100 videos (2019–2026)

Video platform where Hank became a sensation; in 2020 he praised its astounding creativity while warning it is addictive and gathers huge amounts of data. He later weighed Chinese government influence over it (2023), and in 2026 criticised its inflated view counts and creator pay.

Makes: For You page

Videos by year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 8

Threads

Also named in the threads: How to Vote in Every State: launch of the 54-video guide to registering and voting in each US state (2016) · Awesome Socks Club: monthly sock subscription (2016) · Hank: people won't follow celebrities to Quibi (2020) · John: SpaceX will not send a ship to Mars in 2022 (2020) · Beanie Sanfurbs: Hank's bean Furby, P4A 2021 celebrity and meme (2021) · Hank's habit of constantly starting new things, tracked by the 'days since Hank Green last started a new thing' website (2021) · Awesome Coffee Club: the brothers' coffee subscription for charity (2022) · Hank: AI like ChatGPT will be great at getting people to dislike each other more (2022) · John's Tumblr persona: the Awesome Coffee Club and its 'unpaid intern' (2023) · Good Store: the brothers' store and subscription box at good.store giving all profit to charity (2023) · Hank's Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis and chemotherapy (2023) · Everything Is Tuberculosis: John's nonfiction book about tuberculosis (2024) · Hank: people will someday move on from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which will not simply evolve (2024) · Focus Friend: Hank's focus app (2025)

Often together

What comes up in the same parts of the videos; the number is how many parts.

recommender system (19) · Instagram (18) · social media (13) · attention economy (11) · YouTube (35) · Facebook (13) · Twitter (21) · Days Since Hank Green Last Started a New Thing (2) · Awesome Socks Club (8) · Pizzamas (10)

What the videos say

The most important statements of each year; all statements.

2020

  • 2020-03-10 · A Strong but Fleeting Flavor: A Reunion Video — John: Asked about TikToks about them, John has seen only one, which Sarah sent him today; he jokes he gets his TikTok news from The New York Times. (playful) — 00:03:18
  • 2020-07-17 · So Much to See — recommendation: Hank tells viewers not to download TikTok just to follow him: it is addictive and gathers a huge amount of data, which could be misused or compromised in the future. — 00:00:31
    • When there is a new way stories spread, Hank feels almost obliged to engage with it, and he has been doing so with TikTok. — 00:00:31
    • Yet on TikTok Hank has never felt closer to the infinite content world, because the constraints on creation and on discovery have been lowered. — 00:02:28
    • TikTok isn't the Renaissance, but its creativity is astounding; Hank feels he could never find all the good stuff, as with television and books. — 00:02:57
  • 2020-08-28 · Break the Mold — Hank says he has been spending a lot of time on TikTok because he is addicted to it. (playful) — 00:00:00
    • Hank says almost all TikTokers would like to be YouTubers or Instagrammers, which does not surprise him; there are good reasons to want that. — 00:01:35
    • Second, Hank tells them they are in the perfect place: TikTok's tumult and fragility are the reason it exists now and can be so weird, vibrant, inspiring and surprising. — 00:02:26
    • Hank advises young creators to think about other paths besides TikTok, but probably not the well-trodden ones full of people who already have lots of power. (hedged) — 00:02:41
    • Hank says that with things tumultuous and the clear paths full, there may be many useful, valuable paths not yet blazed, and that this applies to 2020, not just TikTok. (hedged) — 00:02:55
  • 2020-09-04 · Go Play! — Hank says a young woman's TikTok asking whether math is real and how Pythagoras came up with it asks all the right questions, which lead to a joyous understanding of math. — 00:00:00
  • 2020-12-08 · A Love Letter to My Brother, Basically — John says Hank made the sock club real by working with others to find artists and manufacturers and by an extremely strange and effective podcast and TikTok marketing campaign. — 00:02:26
  • …and 20 statements more in 2020 — all statements of 2020

2021

  • 2021-02-05 · The Project for Awesome will be Different This Year! — announcement: Hank: Perks are available only during the P4A, and some donations will be matched: $10 given for Hank's TikTok drafts can become $30 for charity. — 00:00:58
  • 2021-03-09 · Hank Rebranded Without Any of Us Noticing — John: In 2010 Hank was a goofball corndog enthusiast; today he is a TikTok sensation among the world's leading science communicators, two phrases John had never heard in 2010. — 00:00:58
  • 2021-04-09 · A Thought is Not an Idea — Hank mentions a website, born of a running joke among some people on Twitter, that counts the days since he last started a new thing; it stands at seven days, since the launch of the Life's Little Lies TikTok. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2021-10-01 · A Lie I Heard this Week — Hank says someone on TikTok claimed 'news' stands for 'notable events, weather, and sports'; Hank calls it a lie, a folk etymology: made-up origins that make sense and spread but aren't real. — 00:00:11
  • 2021-10-05 · Why the Heck am I on TikTok??? — Hank says that in May 2020 someone told him TikTok is pretty cool; very soon he was uploading several TikToks a day, and over a year later he still is. — 00:00:00
    • Hank is interested in how communities behave and grow when given great tools; TikTok is a great tool, terrifying too, but still fascinating and fun. — 00:01:18
    • Reason five: Hank loves seeing people get curious about their world; TikTok reaches people he otherwise can't, and he loves being there when they first meet the universe's weirder ways. — 00:02:16
    • Hank recognizes TikTok is a very limited tool at the very beginning of its existence, with a long way to go before we understand what it is and all the harm it can do. — 00:03:01
    • Hank says TikTok doesn't scratch the itches YouTube does, especially Vlogbrothers, which is unlike any other place on the internet, and that is not just nostalgia for 2007. — 00:03:01
  • 2021-10-07 · We're Thinking About Facebook Wrong — Hank says platforms, viewers and he himself are all bad at this: it is a revolution in human-to-human communication and a baby, with no systems yet for many-to-many decentralized communication. — 00:04:55
    • The real danger and power of platforms is not hosting but deciding what gets new eyeballs; promoting is an active editorial decision by the company, even when made by an algorithm. — 00:16:18
  • 2021-11-19 · How do We Get Anything Done At All? — Hank: On TikTok, where the crowd is different and often younger, Hank sometimes sees conversations being had that he and everyone he knows finished long ago. — 00:00:00
  • …and 16 statements more in 2021 — all statements of 2021

2022

  • 2022-02-08 · How Much Money Vlogbrothers Makes from YouTube (...and where it goes) — John says the best way to use TikTok is to post a video, let people see it for about 12 minutes and then private it, which he admits is inventing Snapchat; he has privated 120 TikToks. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2022-02-25 · When You Can't Fix Everything… — announcement: Hank: The digital download bundle includes all of Hank's and John's TikTok drafts of the last year, including ones John posted briefly then took down: over 200 TikToks. — 00:02:35
  • 2022-05-17 · Reasons Not to Care — John: With a new horror in our feeds every 280 characters or 10 TikTok seconds, we can't respond to every crisis, so we look for reasons not to: they did it to themselves, the government's corrupt. — 00:00:58
  • 2022-08-19 · What if a lot of the Cynicism is Unjustified??? — Hank describes How to Vote in Every State, a YouTube channel and now a TikTok account, with a video per state on registering, voting from home, sample ballots and polling places. — 00:03:05
  • 2022-09-23 · Apparently you can make a short from a video comment now!!! — Hank says this is more of a thing on TikTok, because you don't choose what to watch: you are fed only extremely popular content, so less engaging posts about a creator's live show or themselves rarely reach you. — 00:00:00
    • Hank says it can be done on TikTok, but it is harder, because every view is algorithmic and no human choice decides what you want to watch versus keep watching. — 00:00:44
  • 2022-09-23 · The Real Difference Between YouTube and TikTok — Hank says the real difference between a YouTube video and a Short, TikTok or Reel is not being vertical or short, but whether you choose to watch it or choose to keep watching it. — 00:00:58
    • Hank says systems that allow discovery of new, talented creators are important, and TikTok-like feeds are great for discovery and for building early in a career. — 00:02:45
  • 2022-09-28 · How My Book Became a Hit with Elderly People — John has seen a huge, lovely surge of fan mail from older people who have never heard of him through TikTok or The Fault in Our Stars but like the book. — 00:02:53
  • 2022-10-04 · Hank and John Reunited at Last — announcement: John explains the game Got It, which he saw on TikTok: both say a word, then keep naming the intersection of the two words until they say the same word. — 00:00:00
  • 2022-10-25 · Instantly Debateable — John says videos with higher engagement-to-view ratios on YouTube or TikTok are shown to more people, and the same is true on his Twitter. — 00:00:29
  • 2022-12-23 · You Cannot Trust Yourself (Hank's End of the Year Worries) — Hank says he is very good at becoming whatever a platform wants him to be: he got good at YouTube, Twitter and TikTok, and just had the top toot of the day on Mastodon. — 00:01:38
  • …and 13 statements more in 2022 — all statements of 2022

Also named in: Planets Don't Exist

2023

  • 2023-01-03 · TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH — announcement: In a channel comment, John says he has become the Awesome Coffee Club's unpaid social media intern, so far only on Tumblr, and may start a TikTok. — creator comment
  • 2023-03-10 · Is it Good or Bad that we Haven't Met Aliens? — Hank says the great filter could be AI, global warming, nuclear weapons or social media, maybe TikTok; we don't know. (unsure) — 00:01:59
  • 2023-04-21 · On TikTok Bans — Hank says he lives in Montana, the first state to pass a TikTok ban. — 00:00:00
    • Hank says Montana can probably not ban TikTok, at least at the moment. (hedged) — 00:00:47
    • Not claiming to understand US-China relations, Hank says what the Chinese government would do with its influence over TikTok in 10 years may differ greatly from today. (hedged) — 00:01:33
    • Hank says TikTok is not just a place where content goes: it is many cultures and genres, where things are created that would not be created elsewhere. — 00:02:41
  • 2023-06-16 · So, About This HAIR… — Hank says easier things than feeling connected compete (TikTok, smartphone games, work to pay the bills), and investments in connection are harder partly because they are not necessary. — 00:01:22
  • 2023-06-23 · Understanding Cancer Survival Rates — Ann Russell (quoted): Hank shares TikTok creator Ann Russell's point, made during her own cancer diagnosis, that someone with an 85% chance of dying within five years is 100% alive now. — 00:10:06
  • 2023-10-03 · Nourished by Leaving — John recalls Hank's TikTok: humans live briefly and our species is young, but seen as part of one continuous biological phenomenon called life, things look quite different. — 00:00:35
  • 2023-10-06 · I Quit — Hank says he has never been a full-time CEO: in that time he also wrote two novels, made countless TikToks and spent far too much time on Twitter. (playful) — 00:01:01
  • 2023-11-03 · We Need to talk about Sarapocial Relationships — Hank gives examples: part of the core finds heavy TikTok use ludicrous, given the data it holds, while part disagrees; the core has disagreed over separating art from its creator. — 00:05:38
  • 2023-11-17 · WHAT AM I DOING — Hank: During chemo Hank saw a Gubbins gameplay trailer on TikTok, contacted the developers, got early access and loved the game. — 00:02:09
  • …and 18 statements more in 2023 — all statements of 2023

Also named in: John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated

2024

  • 2024-01-05 · I'm Scared of 2024...So Here's 3 Optimistic Thoughts — Hank blames the culture-war talk and nationalism on the disintegration of the media landscape, caused by platforms like TikTok, Facebook and YouTube maximizing time on platform, where moral outrage sticks best. — 00:01:32
    • Hank's first optimistic thought: unlike content platforms, which met much optimism and little pushback, generative AI is not being allowed to have its way with us. — 00:02:02
  • 2024-06-25 · taking a break — John says that is how he feels about making stuff now, especially on Twitter or TikTok but also everywhere. — 00:01:56
  • 2024-08-07 · Dear Hank and John Livestream! — Hank, citing his video last week (week of 29 July 2024), says he is convinced YouTube is not past its prime. — 00:15:05
  • 2024-08-27 · How The Internet Is Rigged — John says about 3% of TikTok's revenue goes to independent creators and about 30% to record labels, because labels have far more collective bargaining power. — 00:03:53
  • 2024-09-17 · My Consciousness. Their Capital. — John says watching TikTok lets TikTok decide whether he feels happy or outraged, what he sees and what he sympathizes with; his only choice is whether to engage. — 00:00:29
    • John says the rush of panic was not so different from sensing a threat in a disparaging TikTok comment or a big story breaking live on Twitter: a drama with an unknown ending. — 00:02:43
  • 2024-09-20 · Do I Regret TikTok? — Hank says there is a lot he genuinely likes about TikTok: he has discovered many fantastic comedians, artists, musicians and science communicators who reach very different audiences. — 00:00:58
    • Hank calls TikTok a culture factory full of art, experiments and storytelling; he took part in its beautiful moments, and it fascinated and inspired him and changed his life. — 00:01:27
    • Hank thinks TikTok's greatest advantage over Instagram and YouTube, besides being first, was simply that it was cooler. — 00:02:26
    • Hank says caring is the opposite of cool: once TikTok success mattered, creators could not help caring, which hurt its coolness and can start a doom loop in what content succeeds. — 00:02:55
    • Hank thinks TikTok is structurally worse at handling its power: short-form video earns less per minute uploaded, so there is more to moderate and less money for moderation. — 00:04:52
  • …and 34 statements more in 2024 — all statements of 2024

2025

  • 2025-04-25 · How We Form Opinions — Hank wants open minds about vaccines and electric cars, which have been extremely beneficial to his life, and about whether TikTok is bad and how to handle the coming demographic transition. — 00:07:44
  • 2025-05-30 · My Rare 'Disorder' — Hank naturally falls asleep around 2 a.m. and wakes around 10 whenever left to his own devices; it is not staying up late, which is different from scrolling TikTok. — 00:02:26
  • 2025-06-06 · The Secret Inside my MIT Commencement Speech — Hank introduces himself to the graduates as a TikToker who recently blind-ranked AI companies by how much they look like buttholes, now giving the MIT commencement speech. (playful) — 00:03:14
  • 2025-06-13 · Moving to Hope from Hopelessness (3 ways) — Hank cites a TikTok's phrase 'humanize before they can militarize': militarization is easy once dehumanization occurs, and since dehumanization is a natural reaction we must build against it. — 00:05:51
  • 2025-06-24 · Am I Cigarettes? — John cannot stop: as he chose Nicorette over cigarettes, he picks the healthier-for-him Instagram and Bluesky over Twitter and TikTok, but he cannot stop using the social internet. — 00:03:26
  • 2025-06-27 · You’re Not Addicted to Content, You’re Starving for Information — Hank says a video titled 'we don't use TikTok, TikTok uses us' would be easy and get many views; it is sometimes true and might even do some good. — 00:00:58
    • Lessons from food: companies make things appealing, even addictive; we have less control than we imagine; giving agency away a little is fine, completely is damaging and cringe. — 00:10:52
  • 2025-08-19 · The Problem with My Brother's Hit New App — John says that as of recording Hank's app Focus Friend is the most popular app in the United States, ahead of ChatGPT, TikTok, Gmail and all others. — 00:00:03
  • 2025-09-19 · Let's Just Be Stupid For a Moment — John wins tortilla slap, a game one of them learned about on TikTok, without having to slap Hank. (playful) — 00:07:02
  • 2025-10-17 · We Never Know What Anything Means — Hank says the recommendation algorithms of YouTube, TikTok, Threads and Twitter already erode trust without wanting to: told to keep people on websites, they made us hate each other more, fraying society. — 00:03:50
  • 2025-10-21 · Is Book Publishing Dying? An Author's Perspective — John says the idea that TikTok is making reading impossible is a little off base, though, as he will explain, also a little on base. — 00:01:01
    • John argues books can still compete with TikTok for some people: TikTok is better entertainment but books are deeper, letting you visit otherwise inaccessible rooms in your mind. — 00:03:52
  • …and 4 statements more in 2025 — all statements of 2025

Also named in: How the P4A is Changing in 2025!

2026

  • 2026-02-15 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 5! — Hank realised he was putting about 60% of a YouTube video's effort into a TikTok, while a YouTube video is far better for the world; he now makes far fewer TikToks, having once made three a day. — 03:41:03
  • 2026-03-27 · What is 'Slop' (and why it gives me hope) — Hank says Fruit Love Island, a series about sexy fruit people, is popping off on TikTok, reaching 3 million followers in about 10 days of posting. — 00:00:00
  • 2026-05-05 · Noted Brother Hank Green — John hails Hank as inventor of 2D Glasses, TikTok science guy, Crash Course, VidCon and Project for Awesome man, best-selling novelist, Billboard-charting musician and Emmy winner. (playful) — 00:00:13
  • 2026-06-05 · The Things We Don't Discuss — Hank says TikTok counts a view earlier than YouTube: a swipe watched for two or three seconds might count, while YouTube requires a click and longer watching. (hedged) — 00:03:00
    • Hank says TikTok's separate monetization metric, qualified views, hovers between 20 and 50% of the reported view number. — 00:03:29
    • Hank says TikTok reports higher view numbers to look impressive and partly to manipulate creators into feeling more successful. — 00:03:59
  • 2026-09-15 · YouTube Says This Video Has 683,183 Views, It Actually Has 312,584 — John says that in the last month YouTube, borrowing from Instagram and TikTok, began counting a view when anyone watches any frame, instead of after an unknown number of seconds. — 00:01:27
    • John says the extra views bring no more revenue or deep community engagement: most are 'trash views', as on Instagram and TikTok. — 00:02:26
  • 2026-09-18 · John was Wrong about YouTube Views — Hank says the law bites both creators chasing TikTok views that cannot build a sustainable audience and platforms that push the number up because creators and brands measure by it. — 00:02:30
    • Hank says creators should be paid more; it is insane that they have been paid similar amounts for a TikTok view and a YouTube view. — 00:07:46
  • 2026-10-01 · Are We Still YouTubers? — Hank finds it weird that classes of creators are named after the company owning their platform (YouTuber, TikToker, Instagram influencer); YouTuber is at least better than Instagram influencer. — 00:00:00
    • Hank sees names differentiating: video essayists, storytime animators, streamers, and explainers or communicators, work he sometimes does on Vlogbrothers and often on Hank's channel and TikTok. — 00:03:08
  • …and 9 statements more in 2026 — all statements of 2026

Also named in: The Last Normal Year

Also named in other years (nothing said): Kylie Jenner Shows Me What's Wrong with Reddit (2019-11-19)