When we talk about the ratio of something, we are essentially looking at the quantitative relation between two amounts or values.
When something is equal, the ratio is 1:1.
When something is twice as big as another thing, the ratio is 2:1.
And so on…
With this core definition in mind then, what does ratio mean on TikTok specifically?
Ratio on TikTok
If you see the term ‘ratio’ being thrown around on TikTok or another social media platform, then the chances are it’s nothing good.
There are two occasions when a ratio may be discussed in relation to a TikTok video.
- When a video has more comments than it has likes
- When a comment has more likes than the video it has commented on
Both of these occasions are deemed a failure on the part of the original poster. Typically, when a video attracts more comments than likes, those comments are largely negative or derogatory towards the content. Similarly, if a comment gets more likes than the video, this marks a failure from the original video to engage users.
By referring to both of these occasions as ratios, users are poking at the video.
How Is Ratio Used?
You might see a simple one-word comment under a video that depicts these attributes, reading ‘ratio’.
On other occasions, the use of the term is not explicit or written down – rather, it is simply an assumption that users will know and recognise a ratio when they see one.
Of course, not all instances of ratio posts are negative. Sometimes, the comment that gets more likes than the video will have been shared by the original poster or will add context that boosts the content of the video. However, for the most part a video that is termed a ‘ratio’ is one that has underperformed.
We hope this helps and unpacks just one of the many terms and phrases that is thrown across TikTok on a regular basis!
