Summary:
- A 69-year-old retiree, Linda Loh (better known online as Aunty Linda), became a TikTok live streamer after taking a short training course, overcoming prior digital illiteracy to build a following of over 10,400 (accurate as of publishing date).
- Through experimentation and weekly peer-support sessions, she refined her niche to teaching origami, developing a warm, slow-paced teaching style that appeals especially to children and teens.
- Although she earns modest income from gifts and commissions, her main motivation is enjoying her hobby and connecting with her audience, seeing live streaming as an accessible activity for other seniors.
At 9:30pm sharp every evening, Linda Loh sits down in front of a table with a stack of colourful origami paper. She checks her set-up – smartphone, tripod, and a signature pair of red-framed glasses and matching bucket hat – before starting her TikTok live stream.
Once she feels there’s enough people there, she starts folding – frogs, cranes, whales, tulips, and more, making sure to show her viewers the creases and folds she’s making.
The live stream lasts for around an hour and a half, and the silver has been on this nightly routine for the past five months. Aunty Linda regularly racks up thousands of views per live stream, with a follower count that’s over 10,400 (accurate at time of publishing).
The numbers aren’t huge in the world of social media, with those at the top of their game boasting millions of fans, but it is significant for a senior who previously considered herself digitally illiterate.
"Last time, I would only use the computer for simple data entry work."
Much of her former job revolved around the handling of administrative work for in- and out-processing of national servicemen.
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Becoming Aunty Linda
Linda retired at the age of 68, where she began looking for ways to pass time and “earn some extra pocket money”. She eventually walked past a sign by local training provider GEX Academy, where she was introduced to the basic TikTok course.
Though the course only lasted two full days, she says it covered everything from the ins-and-outs of the app’s interface to branding, engagement tactics, and finding a marketable niche.
After a couple of twists and turns, she ended up teaching her followers how to fold origami.
"I taught people how to fold it neatly, so that they could store more plastic bags."
Though Linda had little experience speaking in front of a camera, her natural, easy-going personality helped her gain traction.
“Sometimes in the comments they will write, ‘Aunty, you so cute. But can you start earlier? We need to sleep and wake up early for school!’ (laughs).”
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Finding her niche in origami
Over time, the silver experimented with her content before finding a niche in origami. It was an iterative process that was part art, part science, she explains.
She didn’t do this alone. Also included in the course she attended are weekly tutorial sessions where previous participants gather to discuss their progress. It’s like a community for the alumni.
Lucas Low, 47, the chief trainer for the academy’s TikTok live stream training, says that the community of live streamers help each other to improve their craft and stay motivated.
They often drill down to the finer details of TikTok video creation – the use of subtitles, tweaking of cold opens, and refinement of their content niche.
Linda hasn’t missed a session since she graduated from the course.
The group sessions also serve a secondary purpose for the budding live streamers: it gives them the numbers necessary to collaborate and supercharge a member’s live stream.
By working together to like, share, and comment on a member’s stream, TikTok’s algorithm picks up the activity and pushes the live stream to more viewers. It might seem iffy, but it is actually a relatively common practice among those looking to maximise their chances of going viral.
Once you’ve got a sufficient viewership going, live streamers typically start selling products for a commission. They might also promote sponsored products or earn directly from TikTok through gifted virtual ‘roses’.
In Linda’s case, she’s managed to chalk up around US$300 (S$388) over the past few months of streaming.
While she admits that the pocket money is good, she says that her main motivation now is enjoying her hobby with her audience.
As she’s only just started her new retirement venture, she has no plans to stop or change what she’s doing anytime soon. And in case you’re thinking she spends too much time on social media, she says she still spends plenty of time with her four grandchildren.
