Members of Gen A and Gen Z, and even many millennials, have grown up in an era when material posted on social media platforms is “fair game.”
Most of them see nothing wrong with downloading or copying TikTok content posted by other users and then reposting it or creating their own, very similar versions of the same TikTok videos.
That’s understandable. Even though a content creator legally owns the material they produce, Internet copyright violations have been ignored for decades, and the laws specifically addressing the use and reuse of online content are essentially toothless.
The last few generations honestly see nothing wrong with reusing material any way they see fit, even if individual TikTok users or big companies have spent enormous amounts of time and money to create it. No one’s ever told them they can’t.
It is somewhat encouraging, though, that the abbreviation “h/t” has become a common abbreviation on many social apps.
“h/t” stands for “hat tip,” and it’s a way to give credit to the person who first came up with an idea or created content that inspired a user’s post. “Tipping one’s hat” is a phrase that dates back to medieval times; lifting a hat when meeting someone was seen as a show of respect and courtesy.
You don’t see “h/t” in TikTok posts regularly, but you may see “IB.”
What “IB” Means on TikTok
“IB” isn’t heard in TikTok videos very often. Instead, you’re likely to see “IB” followed by a TikTok username, either as a caption on the video or in the post’s description. The “IB” stands for “inspired by” and it’s a way to credit the tagged user whose TikTok post contributed the idea or concept for the video.
The most common usage of “IB” is in dance challenge videos to credit the choreographer who created the dance.
However, “IB” is also seen in comedy videos that use gags or jokes originated by other users, in more thoughtful content discussing a concept or technique that was based on an idea contributed by a TikTok poster or a celebrity, and even in the use of innovative video transitions and effects first used by someone else.
In short, the abbreviation is a way for TikTok users to show appreciation for and share credit with whoever inspired their posts. It’s thoughtful, considerate — and quite honestly, the right thing to do.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.