Since 2020, TikTok has become the fastest-growing social media platform globally. About 1 billion people click on the app at least once a month to watch and share content from educational topics, makeup tutorials, music, comedy, and much more. With this significant reach, content creators have the power to make a meaningful impact. That’s something Carrie Berk strives to do every day.
As a TikTok star, influencer, and writer, Carrie Berk uses her platform to spread positivity and kindness. I had the opportunity to speak with Carrie about her experience as a TikTok creator, her time on Awesomeness TV’s Next Influencer, and her anti-bullying advocacy.
Who is Carrie Berk?
Carrie Berk is taking over the content creator world by storm at only 19 years old. Inspired by her mother, editor, journalist, and author Sheryl Berk, Carrie began writing as a child. Eventually, with her mother’s help, she developed and wrote a series titled The Cupcake Club, a series about a young girl who tries to make friends by starting her own cupcake group.
With storytelling in the back of her mind, Carrie got involved with the social media world and launched her own fashion blog. When she first joined TikTok, she didn’t think anything would come of it. “It kind of just happened over quarantine. It blew up,” Carrie says. “It just kind of all fell into place.”
Carrie also ventured into the world of reality television, starring in season 3 of Next Influencer, which is currently airing on Paramount+. Now with over 3.4 million followers on TikTok, she’s establishing herself as a creative and powerful voice for Gen Z.
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Carrie Berk’s TikTok process
Carrie Berk experiments with various video styles within the TikTok realm. Clips range from product reviews, fashion videos, fun dances, workout routines, and mini “vlogs.” When filming her different videos, Carrie strives to share her positivity.
@carrieberkk Reply to @eaguiar26 these pancakes are NOT what u think!! 🥞 #soap #soapbop #soapasmr #pancake ♬ original sound – Carrie Berk
“I don’t really have a specific niche,” she says. “Overall, it’s just about trying to just spread joy because there’s so much hate in the world right now. I just want people to be able to watch my videos and feel happy.”
@carrieberkk literally counting the days until I can take the stairs again 🙄 #college #collegelife #collegegotmelike ♬ Spongebob Tomfoolery – Dante9k Remix – David Snell
Whether it’s a makeup review for a cool mascara or something funny going on while she’s at college, Carrie Berk wants to bring smiles to peoples’ faces.
@carrieberkk sooo this just happened…I just walked in New York Fashion Week!! 😊 #fashionweek #tiktokfashionmonth #fashion #nyc ♬ Boss Bitch – Doja Cat
Carrie Berk and her experience on Next Influencer
Produced by Awesomeness TV, Next Influencer is a reality show that follows up and coming social media stars as they compete to become the next biggest TikTok star in Los Angeles, all while living in the same house.
Carrie Berk swapped the bright city lights of her New York City home for the warmth and palm trees in California. Initially, she felt excited to jump headfirst into this new experience. “When I found out I was going to be able to go to California and live in this huge mansion with a bunch of people who are passionate about the same thing I am, why wouldn’t I want to do that?” Carrie tells me.
Of course, because it’s reality television, there comes drama. With large personalities all under the same roof, there are bound to be situations that get out of hand. “Going into it, I was me the entire time, and then when I got into this house, there were so many different personalities. I didn’t really know how to react,” Carrie describes.
Audiences will have to watch the show to see exactly what kind of drama unfolds!
What Carrie Berk has learned about reality television
While reality TV can bring entertainment, it’s important to remember the people on-screen are real human beings. For Carrie Berk, living reality TV is far different from watching it. Even though she’s seen some scenes from her time on the show, she’s not currently watching the season or reading comments.
“In reality TV, a lot of it is cut out, moved around, taken out of context,” she says. “I feel like I have to be in the right headspace mentally to be ready to watch the whole thing because it is something emotional for me.”
Although filming Next Influencer was mentally taxing for Carrie, she feels grateful the show gave her a place to spread her message to, in her words, “eradicate bullying.”
“It was a reality show; tensions are high,” Carrie explains. “I made sure in situations to always lead with respect and listen to people and what they had to say but also make my opinions known because I’m a human being too.”
Carrie Berk advocates against bullying through her content
As an ambassador for the organization, No Bully, Carrie Berk has continuously used her platform to fight against bullying in thoughtful ways. While Carrie faced bullying by peers in school and now online, she stands tall, regardless of what others say.
“Someone who is saying such cruel things has something else going on in their life,” she says. “What I’ve learned is not to resent that person and understand that they have pain there that’s not necessarily about you. You don’t need to give the bully what they want by having this big emotional reaction.”
Cyberbullying is more prevalent now than ever since social media provides more space for people to say whatever they want behind a screen and oftentimes anonymously. At times, the hate comments can get to a person, even if they’re fully established and have tons of success. Carrie gets honest with her followers, posting unfiltered moments when she herself feels down.
@carrieberkk ur not alone. ❤️ #antibullying ♬ original sound – Carrie Berk
On Next Influencer, Carrie emphasizes to always lead with empathy, even when it’s hard. That message clearly resonates with her fans. “I got a message from a kid that said they watched me on the show and that I changed their life,” she states. “That in itself is worth it.”
Carrie Berk on the good of the content creator world: “I’ve seen a lot of people using their platform for good.”
When you look at social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, young people lead the demographic with posting and viewership. Everything shared on social media holds weight for good reasons or bad. Carrie Berk observes that Gen Z creators are making a positive difference in the world. “It’s our job to make the world a better place because we are the future,” she declares.
Carrie mentions that content creators like Amelie Zilber and Ellie Zeiler are spreading kindness with what they post.
What’s next for Carrie Berk?
Currently, Carrie Berk goes to college in New York where she studies journalism. Between writing a new book about her life, creating TikTok content, and training for a marathon, she dreams of using her passions by working in a magazine someday.
“I want to continue to use my platform for good,” she explains. “I hope to carry on that message to magazines because I don’t see a lot of fashion magazines out there raising awareness for bullying.”
If this is only the beginning of Carrie Berk’s career, we cannot wait to see her take on the world with her youthful spirit and unwavering optimism.
Follow Carrie Berk on Instagram and TikTok and watch Next Influencer airing on Paramount+ and Youtube.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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