What goes viral on TikTok? The truth of the matter is that going viral takes a little bit of planning, a little bit of skill, and a little bit of luck. Just to get in the Halloween state of mind, think of TikTok viral fame as a spell made in a cauldron by your favorite neighborhood witch, only instead of Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, the ingredients are good timing, eye-catching graphics, and trending hashtags.
All that said, doing your research and jumping onto trends while they’re still relevant can be very helpful for gaining traction and potentially going viral in the future. That’s why our social media experts are sharing a closer look at the current trends and how you can add them to your current business or influencer portfolio.
What’s Trending on TikTok?
It’s important to note that certain trends last longer than others. For instance, seasonal or holiday trends will stick around until the day or month passes, while trends related to songs or sounds are likely to have a shorter shelf life. It can be useful to check in on the hashtags and songs in advance of the trend and to post your version of the trend as soon as possible, all for maximum effect.
And if you’re looking for the latest in trends to try on TikTok, we’ve got them. Here’s a closer look at some of the top aesthetics, games, and ideas that you can add to the FYP — with your very own twist — today.
“I Am an Autumn”
Put on your nostalgia listening ears for this iconic quote from the fan favorite, Gilmore Girls. The trending sound is simple. “What’s the verdict?”/ “I am an autumn.” This is the sound you’ll hear all fall long, typically laid over collages and photo journals of fall events and activities.
One of the reasons we love this viral TikTok sound is because it has staying power. Since we just made the switch from summer to fall, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to use it for your own travels and adventures. Another benefit of this sound is its versatility. Use it to show off your cute fall decorations, your favorite fall recipes, or the outfits you picked out at the thrift store. There are many fun and creative ways to really make this trending sound your own.
“Bad Idea, Right?”
We’ve got another trending sound just for you. Olivia Rodrigo is the queen of viral TikTok sounds and for good reason. Her song, “bad idea right?” is the latest in a lineup of 2023 faves, and gives us lots of great options for viral vids.
The set up of this trend is repetition, since the lyrics repeat: “Seein’ you tonight, it’s a bad idea, right?/Seein’ you tonight, it’s a bad idea, right?/Seein’ you tonight, it’s a bad idea, right?/Seein’ you tonight, whatever, it’s fine”.
On the last line, “Whatever, it’s fine,” content creators land the transition. That could be a new outfit, a new background, a new makeup look, or anything else you can come up with. This song is catchy, bold, and exciting and leaves lots of room for creativity, innovation, and fun. Because we all deserve to show off our favorite outfits.
TikTok Made Me Buy It
If TikTok Shop is draining your wallet, you’re not the only one. This easy-to-use way of picking out your favorite new products can be a slippery slope. In fact, TikTok influencing is so popular and universal that it’s actually become a trend of its own — and we think this one is here for a good, long time.
Whether you’ve purchased a product from TikTok Shop or simply because you follow TikTok creators with some pretty impeccable taste, you can use the “TikTok Made Me Buy It” tag and trend. Show it off in your home — what I bought/how I styled it, review and discuss the product, or even just film an aesthetic unboxing video. “TikTok Made Me Buy It” is pretty accessible and easy to make your own because, face it, TikTok has made us all buy it once or twice.
Girl Dinner, Girl Math, Girl Life
If you’re not living under a rock, you’ve definitely seen the Girl Dinner trend. While we love a sociological analysis of how Girl Dinner subverts trad domestic roles and gives universal agency to shared women’s experiences, we also just love Girl Dinner itself.
Girl Dinner is a cheese stick, a bowl of grapes, half a piece of cake, and goldfish eaten out of the box. It’s leftovers and breakfast cereal, pickles, pistachios, and a French baguette dipped in garlic olive oil. Whatever your Girl Dinner may be, this is a fun and creative TikTok trend that you can make your own with the goodies you already have at home.
In the same vein, Girl Math has been trending as well. Girl Math is a fun, cultural look at how women calculate their spending and budgets in a way that fits their needs. If the money is already in the coffee app, it’s like it’s free! There are many different ways to make the girl life trends personal, accessible, and viral.
“I Pay Attention to Things Most People Ignore”
Another Olivia Rodgrio treasure! Her song, “All American B*tch” includes the lyrics, “I pay attention to things that most people ignore,” which has become another exciting TikTok trend. All you have to do is sing along to the lyrics, which are on the screen — with one addition.
In parenthesis below the lyrics, you’ll add something that is specific to you. A lot of professionals will put details about their specific job like librarians commenting on patrons reshelving books or physical therapists on common gait issues. If your page has a specific brand element, like interior design, books — hey there, BookTok — or food, you can frame the “thing that most people ignore” around your brand. Otherwise, just do something personal to you. Make it bold and stand out, to get attention, or universal, to get agreement.
“Oh My Goodness, I Love This Question”
What’s the one thing you could get up in front of an audience and talk about for an hour with no preparation? That’s exactly what this trend is built for. The quote, “Oh my goodness, I love this question, I think — ” comes from an interview with actors on the hit series, The Summer I Turned Pretty. Actress Lola Tung was asked about what Taylor Swift Era her character is in, and she had this cute and very excited answer for the journalist.
You don’t typically answer the question when doing the trend. Instead, a question is posed at the top of the TikTok video as the creator mouths along to the words. It’s a great way to show off what your brand or personality is best known for.
For instance, if your brand is all about sustainability, you could pose the question, “What’s the best way to support my local bees?” If you’re a TikTok fashion fan, you could ask, “What is the best cozy outfit for fall?” Use this trending TikTok sound and theme to show off what your account is best known for and to give potential followers the confidence to check out your other vids, so they can see just what the answer to the question is for themselves.
Jump Into the Next Viral TikTok Trend Today
Going viral can be tricky. After all, how do you jump onto the next big trend right at the perfect moment? Sometimes, it’s about training your eye to see what’s coming up next, and sometimes it’s about not being afraid to take the leap when you’ve got a great idea.
One of the best ways to get ahead of the competition when it comes to going viral on TikTok is by making sure you always stay in the know on the latest TikTok trends. The more you know about what’s currently trending, the more you’ll be able to capture the attention of potential followers, and the more likely you’ll be to go viral in the future.
We’ve got your closer look at some of the top trends of the moment, with visuals, trending sounds, and songs that are not to be missed.
Sources:
What Is Girl Dinner? | The New York Times
The rise of BookTok: meet the teen influencers pushing books up the charts | The Guardian
Why Are Forty-Something Women Obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty? | Vogue
How can you predict and respond to social media trends and crises? | LinkedIn.
