ParkTok Influencer Kim Tanner on Viral Trend and National Park Awareness

The Genesis of ParkTok

• 💡 Kim Tanner explains that she started the "ParkTok" trend on TikTok after seeing other national parks engage in a similar trend.
• 🚀 She joined the trend in early February, inspired by her frequent visits to Joshua Tree National Park, her favorite.
• 📈 Tanner admits she never expected the trend to gain such significant traction, leading to appearances on platforms like CNN.

Why ParkTok Resonates

• 🎯 The trend combines visually appealing content of parks, waterfalls, and mountains with unexpected elements like gay country music and thirst traps.
• ⚡ This shock factor draws viewers in, making them more receptive to the underlying message about park issues.
• 🗣️ ParkTok offers a way to showcase the parks that the National Park Service cannot, due to platform restrictions and content guidelines.

Addressing Park Funding and Issues

• ⚠️ Tanner expresses concern over federal funding cuts, mining activity, and the sale of public lands affecting national parks.
• 💬 The trend aims to raise awareness about these issues by blending entertainment with important messaging.

Beyond Awareness: Calls to Action

• 🔗 Tanner utilizes a Linktree on her profile with calls to action, including links to send letters to Congress.
• 🤝 She is exploring fundraising initiatives for organizations like the National Park Foundation.
• ✅ The goal is to provide followers with concrete ways to help, addressing the common question of "What can I do?"

Social Media Strategy and Career

• 🧠 Tanner advises aspiring social media creators to understand their audience and find ways to draw them in, suggesting shock factor as an effective, albeit sometimes risky, tactic.
• 📈 She references marketing successes from brands like BarkBox and Duolingo as examples of unexpected content that captures attention.
• 💼 With a background in marketing, Tanner is open to a career change, even expressing a desire to work for Joshua Tree National Park, and sees the success of ParkTok as a potential catalyst.