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FFINJOHNSONcovid-19 has impacted every facet of the workforce, including tiktok
influencers who thrive on collaboration. “It’s really hard because people
want content,” Griffin Johnson told Newsweek. Fortunately Johnson, who has
more than 15 million followers across multiple platforms, lives with other influ-
encers as part of a group called Sway House. “We’re all close, so I’m very blessed
and fortunate.” Of the influencers, Johnson was perhaps the best equipped
to deal with the pandemic: before TikTok fame he was studying to be a nurse.“When it first started, I thought it would be something around the realm of the
flu. But then it started getting really serious.” For him, it’s been about finding a
balance. “I’m not perfect, but I try my best to restrict going out and being in con-
tact with other people.” Even so, Griffin still has “a bunch of stuff in the works,”
including a potential new reality show “based around taking viral content and
adding inside jokes.” At the end of the day, “I view TikTok as a business,” and the
key to making it is to “make sure you’re doing something really, really different.”Griffin Johnson
How do you handle it when people
question TikTokers’ authenticity?
I understand it. TikTok is a 15-second
platform; they don’t really show
personality or long-form content.
For me, I converted this following to
businesses, YouTube and even some
of our own shows.How do you avoid the drama that so
often haunts TikTok inʀuencers?
I actually don’t. I used to try, but it
just got to a point that it was just
inevitable. People feed on the
drama, so if you don’t stay in it a little
bit, then you don’t keep your name
relevant. Now I just make jokes out of
it. It’s just like, whatever, another day.You were studying to be a nurse?
I wanted to do anesthesia and nursing
was a part of the mission, one of the
stepping blocks to get where I wanted
to be. I may end up going back.How did you respond when the
pandemic hit?
I’ve been living in a house where
there’s some things that went down,
some parties or whatever. I avoided
all of it. I’m obviously aware of how
serious it is. It’s just about being safe.Where do you see your career 10
years from now?
Obviously, the social media fame
doesn’t really last that long. I’m
just using it right now to spin-off
into business and become an avid
entrepreneur and be well-known in
the space of investing. —H. Alan Scott“The social
media fame
doesn’t really
last that long.”
PARTING SHOT