On TikTok, the term “whale” is a colloquialism referring to users who spend significant amounts of money on virtual gifts. These gifts, purchased with real currency, are then sent to creators during live streams as a form of appreciation or support. The monetary value transferred to the creator is determined by TikTok’s internal conversion rates, meaning the amount a spender spends does not directly equate to the earnings received by the content creator.
The presence of users who frequently purchase virtual gifts is significant to both individual creators and TikTok’s overall revenue model. Their spending habits can provide substantial income to creators, enabling them to produce more content and engage with their audience. Historically, virtual gifting has been a key component of revenue generation for live streaming platforms and continues to be an important aspect of TikTok’s ecosystem.