A Florida man has amassed nearly 50 million likes and 3 million TikTok followers by sharing simple but clever home repair hacks.
The TikTok user prefers to hide his real name and has posted hundreds of videos using his childhood name Gator.
Gator, a Tallahassee native, told Fox News Digital that she was inspired to join TikTok by her son.
”[My son] I posted some silly videos…and they did really well, reaching close to 1 million views [views],” he explained.
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Gator, a Tallahassee native, told Fox News Digital that he was inspired to join TikTok after his son showed him the app. (@jmg8tor, via TikTok)
“And I was like, ‘Okay, let me get that app.'” And then I actually started posting videos. ”
Gator originally used his account to post funny videos. He had 200,000 followers until someone suggested he share his home repair expertise on a short video app.
“I was living with someone and actually working in a rental property, and they said, ‘What do you do?’ So I said, ‘Fix water heaters. I’m just doing it.”
“They said, ‘Why don’t you make this your content?'” And I was like, ‘I don’t know, I’ve never thought about it.’ ”
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Gator has garnered nearly 50 million likes on TikTok by sharing simple home repair hacks. (@jmg8tor, via TikTok)
Gator told Fox News Digital that his first home repair video received 20 million views in the first two hours.
“And the whole comments section was like, ‘Can you show me another tape measure hack?’ ‘How do you use a drill?’ ‘Can you fix the toilet, fix the door?’ Can you give it to me?”
“And I thought, this is crazy.”
The Florida resident said he learned about home repair when he started building houses at age 18.
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Gator’s hacks are simple and help viewers solve basic problems around the house. (@jmg8tor, via TikTok)
“There was no internet back then,” Gator explained. “So I had to either ask someone or know someone.”
The TikTok star said he believes his videos are popular because many young people are not taught basic skills.
“When I was younger, you had to go out and learn something. Thanks to social media and technology, people have different jobs where they don’t have to go out and work to learn something. ,” he theorized.
“So They go to the internet to find it. ”
The unexpected social media personality called his stardom on TikTok “a complete coincidence.”
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The TikTok star said he believes his videos are popular because many young people are not taught basic skills. (@jmg8tor, via TikTok)
“I never used social media until a little over two years ago. Never. There was no Facebook. There was nothing.”
The high point for Gator was when WD-40 reached out to him to offer him a sponsorship deal.
“I have been using [WD-40] my whole life.Since his father was in the Army, he started introducing WD-40 hacks…so [they] I have contacted you. ”
Despite his extensive construction experience, Gator maintains that his focus is on creating videos that are accessible to all viewers.
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“We’re not teaching you how to tear down a wall and remodel your bedroom. We’re teaching you how to unclog a dishwasher and fix a trash can.”
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