The Better Side Of Social Media: TikToker William White’s Giving Community
April 6, 2022 — Rachel Warner
When William White took over TikTok on Memorial Day Weekend in 2021, he gained almost 2 million followers and a core group of about 2,000 fans. The difference between White’s fandom and some others is that it is made up of mostly Gen X women who are twice his age. He does, of course, have younger fans and some men included in the community, but for the most part it is older women.
What drew these women to a 21-year-old man on TikTok? The obvious first impression was that he was handsome, flirty, brought back the music these women grew up with and a look that reminded them of the 80s heartthrobs. Ten months later, those 2000 women are still fans. They may have found his looks and the nostalgia appealing but to stay onboard, there was something more that kept them devoted to the now 22 year old White.
The answer lies in watching his live events on TikTok. There is a feeling of familiarity, friendship and community in his lives. The chat he reads and questions he answers make you instantly aware that both the creator and his fans know each other much more intimately than has been seen with other creators. There’s still that fun, flirty side of William which first drew them in, but also the deeply personal side as he discusses his struggles with anxiety and mental health. Those struggles and their effect on his daily life and career are openly spoken about and you can see those participating open up about their struggles as well. William ends each live with a positive message, an “I love you” and more often than not, a virtual kiss.
Outside of TikTok, there are people in the fandom forming friendships on other social media apps. They clearly enjoy their interaction with each other as much as they do with William and have banded together to raise over $141,000 for various charities that William has supported. Their charitable nature has also extended to help each other when one is in need and to other creators who have become a part of the community as well.
While troubles that occur in many fandoms have presented themselves, including harassment and cyber bullying, the core group remains intact and supportive of each other. The dedication to both William and each other is something you don’t often see in social media and should be commended and noticed for the what it brings to so many: the positivity, love and support that a good community provides to its members.
