'Where my heart is': Naples TikToker in D.C., asks 1.4 million followers to help save platform

TikTok gave science teacher quite a platform: Chemical Kim has 1.4 million followers and 15.7 million likes.

Dave Osborn
Naples Daily News
  • Kim Hilton teaches at Florida SouthWestern State College in Naples
  • Chemical Kim, who often uses fire in her science videos, says TikTok is very strict about what children see
  • She says no other platform has the reach to educate like TikTok, though she has thousands of followers on Instagram and YouTube

Kim Hilton traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to help save TikTok as its CEO was testifying before Congress about the popular social media platform.

Hilton — known to her millions of followers as "Chemical Kim" — said she was among about 30 creators TikTok asked to travel to Capitol Hill on their own dime to answer questions and address concerns. They were interviewed by members of the press and met with congressional staffers.

“This is where my heart is, in this platform," Hilton said in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “I recognize why people are afraid. It’s a reaction. You can react the wrong way."

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As Hilton spoke, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was testifying in defense of the popular social media app. Some in Congress have questioned whether to ban the app outright because of national security concerns.

Hilton said TikTok is the safest of all platforms, along with Google, and takes great precautions with its content. She referred to how TikTok thoroughly reviews her videos that include fire.

She estimated that about half of her videos with fire — even though they feature complete science and chemical education — never make it to TikTok because the platform is so strict about what children see.

Kim Hilton, a TikTok influencer who goes by "Chemical Kim" on social media, shows off a recent experiment she did for a video at Florida SouthWestern State College-Collier Campus in Naples, Fla., on Aug. 31, 2021.

“I usually have to reach out to their safety protocol team and go through quite a rigorous checklist of what’s my content, what's the video involved and is this harmful to children," said Hilton, a full-time chemistry professor at Florida SouthWestern College's Collier campus.

And no other platform has the reach to educate like TikTok, said Hilton, who has more than 1.4 million TikTok followers. Her other social media sites have thousands more, including Instagram (267,000) and YouTube (334,000) and Facebook (81,000).

TikTok allows educators like her to teach science in a fun way that inspires viewers, especially younger ones, to want to learn in "a very accepting and open, inclusive environment."

“What TikTok has done is kind of pushed away that barrier and shown the masses that this is someone who has a really good way of teaching science," said Hilton, also a member of the LGBTQ+ community. "I’ve never been afraid to show who I am.”

A native West Bloomfield in suburban Detroit, Hilton graduated from Michigan Technological University and moved to Florida six years ago. She formerly was the scientist in residence for local TV station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and hosted a public access show before that. 

'They are going down a rabbit hole'

Hilton, 53, said she's among the older TikTok influencers and knows that TikTok is not the social media platform of choice for others her age.

Thursday, Hilton and other TikTokkers were answered questions. They also watched on TV as Chew fielded questions from lawmakers. Hilton said she did not testify before Congress.

“All I can share really is my experiences and my understanding as to why I feel there is a group in the country of my generation and older who are very, very afraid of TikTok and, as a result, they are going down a rabbit hole, they are going down a path that is so destructive," Hilton said.

“They have the whole story of TikTok really wrong. I just can’t believe the misinformation these congresspeople are saying. There's so much misinformation they are providing in this hearing that are wrong."

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter and on Twitter @NDN_dosborn.