The lines between professionalism and social media have blurred as teachers turn to online content as a side hustle. A new niche on TikTok has emerged called “TeacherTok,” where teachers post lesson hacks, share funny stories, or offer advice for fellow teachers. It can be positive for many reasons, but on the other hand, there needs to be boundaries.
TikTok can be a valuable tool for teachers to communicate with one another. New teachers can get tips from more experienced teachers, and it’s a good way to see how different teachers handle their students since not all teachers teach the same way. Teachers can share their lesson plans and ways to teach a lesson to make it easier for students to understand. It also gives a more in-depth look at what teachers go through every day in their jobs. This content can make students sympathize more with their teachers and the hardships that come with the job. In addition to all this, it’s a great way to earn some extra money on the side by selling their worksheets and lesson plans on Teachers Pay Teachers.
On the other hand, there are some downsides to this. Teacher content can cross some professional boundaries and ethics. Watching teachers film and post content on social media, like watching classmates in the hallway, can feel awkward and distracting. This is especially true when it comes to content such as “thirst traps,” which feels inappropriate. Sometimes, it can be funny to see what students say to their teachers, but using students for content should not be allowed. Another downside is the casualness that comes with content creation. It can make students feel like they are “friends” with their teachers rather than respecting them as professionals.
To make content, it also takes time to film and edit the videos. Teaching is already a demanding job, with many teachers using their free time to plan lessons, grade papers, do administrative work, and support students outside of school in extracurricular activities, so adding content creation into this can be hard to manage. Without time management, it can make teachers use their working time to do content instead of teaching.
Overall, we believe that teachers becoming influencers can have a lot of positive impacts, but it should be done responsibly. TeacherTok can be a great space for teachers to communicate and learn from each other. It gives a better understanding of what it’s like being a teacher and the struggles of it, but it’s important not to blur the lines between professionalism and content. Teaching should be the main priority before social media.