Social Media
Are You Being LIED TO? The Shocking Truth About TikTok Car Hacks!
Let’s talk TikTok. With nearly 1.6 BILLION users worldwide and over 20 million of us Brits glued to it, it’s no wonder TikTok has become our new favourite search engine, serving up engaging answers in seconds. Now more than ever, drivers, tinkerers and even the pros are turning to TikTok for guidance and advice on all things cars. #CarTok has exploded, with more than 876 million videos about tips and hacks for your vehicle ready at the click of a button. The risks of dodgy TikTok advice.
In short, Auto Trader did some digging and found that some of the advice on TikTok isn’t all it’s cracked out to be. In fact, they found that 90% of car repair videos should be met with caution!
- DIY Disasters: Those “genius” cleaning hacks using household products? Turns out some of them can corrode your paintwork.
- Legal landmines: 40% of dodgy TikTok videos are spreading myths about UK road laws. Hot topics such as MOT exemptions, numberplate legislations and speed camera evasion are getting users in trouble because they’re trusting online content creators.
- Buy this, buy that! A recent survey found that 58% of UK TikTok users admitted to buying a car product based on influencer recommendations without knowing if it was reputable or not.
So, how do you know what’s worth listening to?
Don’t panic, not all TikTok advice is rubbish. You just need to know how to sniff out the good stuff. Here’s our cheat sheet:
- Double-check it, Mate! Before you dive headfirst under the bonnet, why not Google it too? There are plenty of reputable sources and forums out there where you can cross-reference tips, hacks and advice.
- Trust your gut: You can usually “just tell” if someone knows their stuff. If something doesn’t seem right or it looks like they’re winging it, they probably are!
- Read the comments: Let’s be fair, the comments section reveals all! If people are disagreeing and calling out the BS, then you know it’s too good to be true. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. A decent professional will always answer your questions.
So, should you trust a TikToker to answer your automotive questions? Truthfully, we work with some excellent content creators who offer genuinely solid advice. These guys have helped thousands of people to find solutions to their problems in the garage. However, it’s worth noting, not everyone is as good as they think they are. Be sure to take advice from social media on board with caution, especially if this isn’t your main gig and you’re just giving it a go on the front drive.
Also, the Auto Trader study wasn’t all bad. They actually found that 72% of car maintenance tips in the videos to be genuinely helpful to drivers. Also, 68% of driving tips were deemed to be useful for drivers, especially for learner drivers. So it’s not all bad, eh. Check out the full survey here: https://plc.autotrader.co.uk/news-views/press-releases/almost-two-thirds-of-car-tiktoks-are-misleading-auto-trader-reveals/
