Name: Influencer behind ‘ParkTok’ speaks about viral trend and national parks
Uploaded: 2025-06-17T17:08:39.000Z
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A TikTok influencer is proving once again that sex sells, even when it comes to, yes, national parks.

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Kim Tanner is behind a trend called Park Talk, which features risque videos and raunchy song lyrics to promote awareness of the parks.

Tanner says that she's concerned about federal funding cuts and new mining activity.

Similar accounts are popping up daily, highlighting Joshua Tree National Park, Mount Hood, and Mount Rainier.

And Kim Tanner joins us live this morning from San Diego.

It was really fun watching some of these videos, not always suitable for work, but we'll get into that in a moment.

What made you want to start this account, and are you surprised by how popular it's become?

I wanted to start it because I saw last year, late last year, Mount Hood and Mount Rainier were beefing on TikTok, and I thought that was pretty funny.

And I saw other mountains joining in on the trend as the year went on, like through December, and then into January.

And no, I did not expect it to turn into this.

So this has definitely turned into something very unexpected.

Well, we are certainly glad to have you here on CNN.

Is it the catchy music, which, as I said, isn't suitable for work, but makes it really fun?

I mean, what is it that's resonating with people?

Or is it the real issue that you're trying to sort of bring awareness to?

I think it's probably a little bit of everything.

We're able to show the parks and the waterfalls and the mountains and all of that in a way that the National Park Service can't for obvious reasons.

One, they can't be on TikTok, but also they can't do videos like we can.

And I think it's a combination of, you don't expect Joshua Tree National Park to pop up and have gay country music.

It's the shock factor, I think, is a big part of it.

And when you can mix that in with the messaging of what's going on with the budget cuts and the parks and the forests and the mining and drilling and the sale of public lands and all of that, it just starts to resonate with people.

We're able to connect with them in a different way because we can draw them in through this shock factor, whether it's a thirst trap or an inappropriate song, and then get the message in front of them.

Kim, you know, there's sometimes this critique when it comes to these really popular social media campaigns that it's a lot of awareness, but it's just awareness and it stops there.

How are you hoping these videos go beyond just awareness?

Well, personally, I have a link tree on my profile and in there I do have calls to action.

So links to different places you can go to send letters to Congress, things like that.

I've also kind of in early conversations about fundraising for organizations like the National Park Foundation.

So we do wanna do, or at least I know I do, and I'm pretty sure the other accounts feel the same way.

Like we do wanna make sure we have that call to action and telling people how they can help, because that's the biggest question we get is like, what can I do?

So putting out that information of, you know, here's really easy ways to send letters to Congress, you know, make these phone calls, here's things that are happening and here's what you can do to help.

We've noticed that some of the posts on the unofficial Joshua Tree page that you run seem to ridicule President Trump.

Do you fear any sort of retaliation at all?

I mean, if he wants to, okay, I'm not worried about it.

Let me ask, because, you know, I think a lot of people who have causes that they're passionate about would love to have the type of reach you've been able to have.

And you were able to do it, if I'm not mistaken, in a pretty short period of time.

What message would you have, Kim, for someone who says, you know, I'm really passionate about cause X, how do I create a social media following like you have?

So that's gonna be difficult because, you know, I'm just doing it on my own.

So I don't have to follow brand guidelines or messaging or anything like that.

So I think that it makes it a little bit harder, but I would say beyond that, you know, just do what you can to really understand your audience and how you're going to connect to them and how you're gonna draw them in.

You know, if you can do some kind of shock factor that you can do, like if you're doing this for a business or a nonprofit, something that you're allowed to do, or maybe you can use a song that's a little bit more risque but not that risque.

That kind of stuff does tend to pull people in because again, they don't expect that.

I would say look at marketing from like BarkBox.

And I think that helps a lot when you're able to do something that people just don't expect.

Yeah, I noticed on your LinkedIn that you have a marketing background, but the success that you've been able to generate with this account is also on your LinkedIn.

Do you think that this might sort of represent a pivot or a career change?

I didn't expect it to blow up like this, but I mean, I have been looking for a job for over a year.

I never expected this to happen to begin with, so it was never a thought.

But in terms of a career change, I mean, I'm definitely open to a career change.

I don't necessarily need to stay in marketing.

I just don't know where this is gonna take me.

All I know is I would actually love to work for Joshua Tree National Park.

So if you're watching, I'm interested once you're able to hire again.

I'm open to a lot of different things right now.

Well, I know that they are aware and the National Park Service is aware of the popularity of the accounts.

And so, here's hoping that maybe your message gets out to those who you wanted to hear.

Kentana, we appreciate you being with us this morning.