This is ParkTok: The new TikTok trend trying to save parks and public lands from Trump’s environmental policies
The social media platform has given birth to countless bizarre trends but the shirtless informative videos on national parks may be the strangest.
TikTok is increasingly become the No. 1 social media platform in the United States, a must-use resource for brands, politicians and sports stars alike. Now, lovers of the national parks are turning their attentions to TikTok.
A new trend of the platform - ParkTok - combines alluring clips with scenic videos from America’s incredible national parks. The accounts posting the videos are not officially linked to the US’ National Park Service but they are working with purpose.
CNN reports that the accounts are aiming to raise awareness of attempts made by the Trump administration to cut federal spending on the nation’s national parks. President Trump is reportedly looking to cut staffing levels at the parks and could allow expanded drilling, mining and logging access for companies.
One of the creators of these TikTok video - Kim Tanner of an unofficial Joshua Tree account - spoke to CNN about the use of social media to help organize a social movement.
“This does go way beyond the thirst traps,” Tanner explained. “It’s a way to pull people in, it’s a way to hook them, and it works. But at the same time, you’re showing them that beautiful imagery (of the parks) and hopefully, even if subliminally, you’re educating them.”
“If you see these beautiful images and these beautiful photos,” she continued, “you start to fall in love with these places, you start to get attached to them, then your natural instinct is going to be to want to protect it.”
Earlier this year experts warned that the busy summer season at America’s national parks could be adversely affected by a raft of firings from the Trump administration. Around 1,000 employees lost their jobs and local authorities warned that they would struggle to keep up with the demand.
“It might mean that the vehicles in the park don’t get fixed quickly enough. It could mean that a trail doesn’t get repaired fast enough,” said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association. “It could mean roads that have potholes or problems after a winter snow don’t get repaired as quickly.”
“You really can’t have the seasonals without the other full-time staff people who are helping to manage them and make sure they have the right instructions on what to do,” she added. “We’re actually losing Park Service staff with institutional knowledge.”
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