If you cook often, you can usually infer the details. The same is true for recipe sites and books, but at a different level of detail.

Usually when I use a tiktok cooking video, I'm not really "following" it, but just using it to get a general idea then riffing on it.

That only works for dishes that are related or similar to other dishes you've made in the past.

As soon as a banana leaf, raw fish, etc etc enters the picture you'll want to read the long form. Also if you want to actually get better at cooking, tiktoks just won't cut it as there's no time to discuss all the nuances - and quality food is an amalgamation of many small nuances.

A lot of people find it easier to follow technique demonstrated on video than described in text