TikTokTo celebrate Year on TikTok 2023, this month, we met some of our favourite creators in the TikTok community. Firstly, we spoke to @kerrycoda , otherwise known as Steve White, an Irish Sign Language (ISL) user who shares ISL resources and tutorials with his community on TikTok. Steve spoke to us about how he feels being part of the #VoicesofChange category on our End of Year list and how he uses TikTok to advocate for some of the most marginalised in our community.
Q: What inspired you to start posting on TikTok?
A: I work as a Special Needs Assistant in a primary school, and I had been recording ISL videos for my colleagues so that they’d be able to communicate with the Deaf pupils in our school. One evening I had a notion to download the app and upload a video. It was just to demonstrate the difference between American Sign Language and Irish Sign Language - it got a good bit of engagement, so I kept at it. Plus, I found the editing aspect quite easy to use - especially when adding subtitles!
Q: How does it feel to be featured on this year's YoTT list as part of the Voices of Change?
A: Honestly I was surprised! There are so many creators doing so many great things on the app, educating people in so many areas - specific school subjects, their legal rights, music theory, medical stuff - you name it! I knew there was a niche for learning about ISL, but I didn’t think it’d have as broad a reach, and with National ISL Day on December 14th, coinciding with making the Year on TikTok list was a perfect time of year to promote and recognise Ireland’s third official language.
Q: What is your favourite TikTok you have made this year and why? (please link the video)
A: It’s completely self-indulgent, but at the end of the International Week of the Deaf in September I put a challenge out there to see if anyone could sign the alphabet forwards and backwards at the same time with both hands! It’s like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time on a different level - I’m yet to get a response ...
Q: Who are some of your favourite creators to also make the list this year?
A: @ericroberts44, he just has a great nature that really comes across in his videos - and I recently found out he used to be an SNA! And the @centra_clarecastle is a brilliant account, their videos would (almost) make me want to go back into retail. @garron_music has to be one of my favourite people on the app in general, he’s gas! I don’t think there’s been a take of his that I’ve disagreed with, plus he’s a great guitarist!
Q: What do you enjoy most about posting on TikTok, and how has your online presence had a positive impact on your everyday life?
A: I love seeing the regular followers engaging, but it really hits home when someone comments that they’ve used some ISL in their day-to-day at work. Someone recently used ISL in a coffee shop they work in with one of their regular deaf customers - and that customer happened to be my brother! It really came full circle - and that’s the biggest impact I feel in my daily life, knowing that there are people out there trying to be inclusive and breaking down barriers to communication.
Q: What other creators are on your For You feed?
A: I have an eclectic enough feed, but there’s been a lot of Irish Comedy recently - I’d have to mention my hometown TikTok star @tadhgfleming, and two creators that constantly have my laughing over my phone @justinestaffordcomedy and @imirishtaylor. Other than that, I’d have to mention @fayencedream - a metal guitarist that I’d love to be able to play as well as, and lastly, @mattisigns, an English creator and fellow CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) that shares a lot of stories that are definitely shared and felt by many CODA’s worldwide!
