  There has been extensive research on the experiences of individuals with
visual impairments on text- and image-based social media platforms, such as
Facebook and Twitter. However, little is known about the experiences of
visually impaired users on short-video platforms like TikTok. To bridge this
gap, we conducted an interview study with 30 BlindTokers (the nickname of blind
TikTokers). Our study aimed to explore the various activities of BlindTokers on
TikTok, including everyday entertainment, professional development, and
community engagement. The widespread usage of TikTok among participants
demonstrated that they considered TikTok and its associated experiences as the
infrastructure for their activities. Additionally, participants reported
experiencing breakdowns in this infrastructure due to accessibility issues.
They had to carry out infrastructuring work to resolve the breakdowns. Blind
users' various practices on TikTok also foregrounded their perceptions of
independence. We then discussed blind users' nuanced understanding of the
TikTok-mediated independence; we also critically examined BlindTokers'
infrastructuring work for such independence.
