What are TikTok challenges?
TikTok challenges are viral trends that invite users to film themselves performing specific actions or tasks to popular songs or audio clips and share the videos on the platform. They allow people to get creative, show off skills, or participate in fun activities. TikTok challenges gain traction when large numbers of users create their own response videos.
Some of the most popular TikTok challenges include lip sync challenges like the Flip the Switch challenge, where users swap clothes while a Drake song plays. Dance challenges like the Renegade feature original choreography set to music. Participatory challenges like the Silhouette Challenge provide prompts for users to creatively film themselves. Food challenges dare users to eat bizarre food combinations. Challenges can also support causes like the Check Your Privilege challenge which raised awareness of inequality.
Why do challenges go viral on TikTok?
TikTok challenges often go viral due to the psychology behind social sharing and the desire to participate in collective experiences. When a challenge starts trending, it taps into the human urge to feel part of a community. According to research from Niche Pursuits, challenges go viral because they are simple, fun, and shareable. People want to join in on something that looks entertaining and that they think will get engagement when they post their own take.
TikTok’s algorithm also plays a role in amplifying challenges. As more users participate in a challenge, it starts getting shared rapidly across the platform. This signals to the algorithm that it is trending, causing it to be promoted even further. The snowball effect leads to more visibility and participation. TikTok’s user base tends to be highly engaged in trends as well. The explosive growth of challenges is fueled by the social motivation to share experiences and the platform’s ability to spread viral content.
How to find trending challenges
One of the easiest ways to find trending challenges on TikTok is to search relevant hashtags. Hashtags like #challenge, #TikTokchallenge, and #foryoupage often aggregate popular ongoing challenges. You can tap on hashtag pages to scroll through associated videos and see what challenges are gaining traction.
Browsing the “Following” feed is another simple way to discover trending challenges, as challenges quickly spread amongst users. Pay attention to multiple videos using the same sounds, effects, or dance moves, which likely indicate a viral challenge. Also look through the “For You” feed, tailored to your interests, to find currently popular challenges amongst creators you follow and within topics you engage with. Checking these feeds daily allows you to stay on top of the latest viral challenges.
According to research, browsing hashtags and feeds makes it easy to identify challenges gaining momentum before they become hugely mainstream (Sources: https://www.cyberlink.com/blog/video-editing-instagram-tiktok/907/tiktok-trends-challenges, https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-use-tiktok-challenges-for-business/). Keeping up with the latest challenges not only allows participation, but also spotlights trends and creativity on the platform.
How to create your own challenge
Creating a viral TikTok challenge requires some strategic planning and creativity. Here are some tips for developing and launching your own unique challenge:
Brainstorming – Come up with an original challenge concept that is easy, fun and shareable. Think about challenges that incorporate dance moves, skills, jokes or spontaneity. Review trending challenges for inspiration, but put your own spin on it.
Filming – Keep videos short, ideally 10-30 seconds. Use captions, text overlays and visual effects to make it more engaging. Film yourself or friends doing the challenge several times to get good takes. Use popular songs or sounds that relate to your challenge idea.
Editing – Use TikTok’s built-in editing tools to stitch together clips, add effects and text. Make cuts on the beat of the music. Add text explaining the rules of the challenge. Use captivating thumbnails. Keep videos polished and concise after editing.
Promotion – Make the first few challenge videos with a consistent hashtag. Ask friends to help kick off the trend by participating. Interact with commenters. Share the challenge outside of TikTok. Time challenges to capitalize on trends and current events. Pitch the challenge idea to TikTok influencers within your niche.
With strategy and creativity, you can develop challenges that captivate audiences on TikTok and generate viral levels of participation. Use data insights to continuously refine the challenge as it spreads.
Tips for participating in challenges
When participating in challenges on TikTok, there are some tips that can help you get the most out of the experience and stay safe.
Practice and preparation are key. Don’t just jump into filming a challenge video – take some time to rehearse and make sure you understand exactly what the challenge requires. Having a plan will help your video turn out better.
Pay attention to safety. While challenges are meant to be fun, some can potentially be dangerous. Avoid doing anything that could lead to injury or property damage. Do your research on a challenge before trying it.
Use captions creatively. The text overlays are a big part of what makes TikTok videos unique. Take time to think of witty or informative captions to enhance your challenge video.
Cite your sources accurately. If you get video ideas from somewhere, make sure to credit the creator properly in captions. Avoid plagiarizing other people’s challenge concepts.
Consider adding your own unique twist. While you want to follow challenge rules, adding your own flair can help your video stand out. Don’t just do the bare minimum required.
Have fun! The best challenge videos feature people genuinely enjoying themselves. Let your personality shine through.
Challenges Tied to Causes
Charities and organizations often use TikTok challenges to raise awareness for social and environmental causes. By tying a viral dance or activity to a hashtag, nonprofits can spread their message to large audiences. According to TikTok for Good, over $7 million was raised for various charities through TikTok challenges in 2020.
For example, the Thumbs Up For Inclusion challenge encouraged people to post videos showing support for those with disabilities. This helped promote the Special Olympics and spread positivity. Other popular challenges have brought attention to issues like climate change, hunger, and mental health. Participating in these challenges allows TikTok users to have fun while making a difference.
To maximize impact, nonprofits should explain why their cause matters and make it easy for viewers to get involved beyond just doing the challenge. By carefully choosing hashtags and teaming up with influencers, TikTok challenges offer a creative way for charities to engage younger demographics.
Controversial challenges
Some TikTok challenges have sparked controversy for encouraging dangerous or inappropriate behavior. According to source, challenges like the skullbreaker challenge, pass out challenge, and penny challenge have resulted in serious injuries. Other challenges like the coronavirus challenge, which involved licking random objects, raised public health concerns during the pandemic.
While many users participate just for fun, the viral nature of challenges means risky behaviors can spread rapidly before potential harms are considered. Peer pressure and desire for views may compel people to participate in ill-advised challenges. Impulsive teens are especially vulnerable. According to source, over 10 deaths have been associated with viral challenges.
Parents should monitor what challenges their children are exposed to and emphasize critical thinking before participation. TikTok has taken steps to remove videos promoting dangerous challenges. However, new challenges are constantly emerging. Spreading awareness and education are key to encouraging responsible challenge participation.
Challenges in education
TikTok challenges have become a popular way for teachers to engage and motivate students in the classroom. Many educators have created educational challenges to make learning more fun and interactive. For example, some teachers have developed STEM challenges that require students to design Rube Goldberg machines or build structures out of limited materials.
Other challenges focus on core subjects like reading, writing, and math. A creative writing teacher could task students with drafting a 100-word story based on a random prompt. A history teacher might dare students to recreate an event or make a 60-second documentary about a historical figure.
Challenges allow students to showcase their talents and take active roles in their learning. Participating in challenges gives students a sense of accomplishment when they successfully complete the task. TikTok’s short video format is ideal for capturing these challenges and spreading them among classmates.
However, teachers should screen challenges and ensure they are appropriate for the classroom. Some viral challenges can be dangerous or disruptive if not properly implemented. With the right challenges that align with curriculum goals, TikTok can be a useful educational tool to boost student engagement. As one teacher put it, “TikTok opens up worlds of possibilities if used correctly in the classroom.” https://www.teachstarter.com/us/blog/school-tiktok-challenges-kids-doing/
Challenges in Marketing
TikTok challenges have become an innovative and effective way for brands to promote themselves and their products. By creating a branded challenge, companies can generate user-generated content and increase engagement. According to one source, “TikTok challenges present a modern, unique way for brands to promote themselves or their products or services.” [1]
Some of the key benefits of branded challenges include:
- Increased brand awareness and reach
- User-generated content creation
- Viral potential
- Authentic engagement with Gen Z consumers
Successful examples of branded challenges include Chipotle’s #GuacDance challenge which generated over 250,000 video submissions. Beauty brands often launch challenges to showcase their products like makeup or skincare routines. Overall, challenges allow companies to tap into creativity and get audiences excited about their brand in an organic way.
The future of challenges on TikTok
TikTok challenges are likely to continue evolving and becoming more creative going forward. As the platform grows, challenge trends will come and go even faster. We will probably see challenges continuing to tie into pop culture references, songs, dances, viral moments, and memes. Brands will likely leverage challenges more for marketing campaigns. There will also be more challenges aimed at activism and charitable causes.
Some predict TikTok challenges may become more interactive and immersive using augmented reality (AR) features https://phoneia.com/en/the-tiktok-revolution-how-a-short-video-platform-is-changing-the-game/. The app could add more tools to make it easier for users to create and participate in challenges. TikTok may also implement initiatives to promote positive challenges and limit dangerous viral trends.
As TikTok continues to expand its global user base, we’ll likely see localized trends and challenges emerge that are popular within different countries and cultures. This will add more diversity to the type of challenges on the platform. Overall, TikTok challenges are an engaging part of the app’s community and culture. This trend will likely only grow in popularity in the future.
