AARON SUN: UTILIZING TIKTOK AS A PLATFORM FOR ACTIVISM
Photo courtesy of Aaron Sun
Aaron Sun is a TikTok personality known for his lip-sync, dance, and comedic content. As a queer Asian-Canadian, he has learned to embrace both his cultural and queer identities. Aaron actively uses his online presence to spread awareness on issues like the Black Lives Matter movement to over 5 million fans on TikTok. As a digital trailblazer, Aaron discusses how comedy, social media, and entertainment can be powerful tools for change.
LTA: Starting off, could you introduce yourself and explain what you do?
My name is Aaron Sun and I make TikTok videos! I try to be funny and relatable in the content I create as I love making people laugh.
LTA: What has your personal journey with your LGBTQ+ identity been like?
I personally struggled a lot with my LGBTQ+ identity; I had a lot of difficulties with accepting myself. Growing up in a conservative family and attending a Catholic all-boys school made it really hard for me to understand where my feelings were coming from and why I was experiencing them. After I switched schools and got involved in a much more liberal community, placing a label on my identity became much easier.
LTA: How has social media impacted your queer identity? What are some memorable interactions you’ve had with your role models or fans online?
Social media has educated me not only about the LGBTQ+ community as a whole but also about queer history and the shared experiences of queer youth around the world.
As long as I am making content people enjoy – that’s good enough for me!
- AARON SUN
LTA: Although you are a queer TikToker, do you consider yourself to belong to the gay “side” of TikTok?
To be honest, I've never really considered myself to be a part of any "side" of TikTok. I'm not entirely sure how the For You page works. As long as I am making content people enjoy – that's good enough for me!
LTA: TikTok has been accused of censoring minority groups. As a successful minority content creator, what are your thoughts on such censorship? Have you personally experienced any censorship?
I am incredibly lucky to have a platform of this size, so I don't really know enough to speak on TikTok's censoring of minority groups. However, I have been shadowbanned in the past for speaking up about the Black Lives Matter movement (alongside many other creators). I do believe that TikTok is a fantastic system for creative, talented, and educated individuals to build a following. It also acts as a great resource for people to speak up about problems plaguing our world. However, TikTok's management team has definitely done some questionable things such as removing BLM videos, banning creators for ridiculous reasons, et cetera. I won't deny that they've censored videos and information that should've been left available.
LTA: What do your peers think of your TikToks? What about your family?
To be honest, not many of my friends and classmates talk to me about my TikTok. Since switching schools in grade seven, I’ve grown up around the same people so, in their eyes, I'm just... Aaron. I really appreciate them treating me and my content with respect and viewing me as the same individual they've known for the past few years. Occasionally, they'll talk to me about my account and ask me questions surrounding the world of TikTok and how I see certain people and events. My family, on the other hand, doesn't really know too much about my account or the content I create and post but they're respectful about it and let me do my own thing!
Photo courtesy of Aaron sun
“If you do what you love, the people who try to put you down will have no power over you. ”
— AARON SUN
LTA: How do you come up with your TikToks? Where do you draw inspiration?
A lot of my inspiration comes from Instagram posts, other TikToks, and ongoing memes. If I see something that I think is funny or relatable, I'll write it down and try to remake it in my own style. Sometimes I just stand in front of the mirror with my phone camera on and go with the flow!
LTA: What are your plans for the future?
I don't really have set goals or plans for the future. The entertainment industry is something I wish to be a part of, whether it be within theatre, writing, dance, or something else. I love creating. My plan is to go with whatever comes!
LTA: What advice do you have for teens on TikTok that may be receiving untasteful comments due to their sexuality?
As unjust as it sounds, at the end of the day, you can't make everyone happy. There will always be someone who doesn't like your content or the things you do. However, you also have to remember that there are people who cherish you, love you, and will support you – in your sexuality, in creating content, and otherwise. If you do what you love, the people who try to put you down will have no power over you.
Aaron can be found on TikTok under the handle @aaron_hey_aaron.
Interviewed and Written by Mai Ly Hagan
Edited by Bizzie Lynch
July 2020