TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. Since launching in 2016, TikTok has quickly grown to over 1 billion monthly active users. One of the app’s defining features is its powerful algorithm that determines which videos go viral.
On TikTok, a video is considered viral when it accumulates hundreds of thousands or even millions of views and shares. Viral videos seem to appear out of nowhere, spreading rapidly across the platform. TikTok’s algorithm plays a major role in making videos go viral by showing them to a wide audience.
Understanding how TikTok decides which videos go viral can provide valuable insights for creators aiming to grow their audience. The app’s algorithm carefully analyzes various factors to determine the content that resonates most with users.
TikTok’s Algorithm
The key to understanding how TikTok decides which videos go viral is learning about the app’s For You Page (FYP) algorithm. This algorithm curates an endless stream of short videos specifically for each user when they open the app. According to TikTok, the FYP algorithm works by recommending content based on user interactions including “likes”, shares, comments, accounts followed, and videos watched. The goal is to provide each user with an experience that feels personalized just for them.
Specifically, the FYP algorithm looks at each user’s past engagement and activity on the app to determine their interests. It then matches and recommends new videos that it predicts will resonate with that particular user. The algorithm is constantly learning and updating based on ongoing engagement analytics. This means the recommendations evolve as users’ tastes change over time.
Some key factors the FYP algorithm considers are: watch time, completion rates, likes, shares, comments, captions, sounds, hashtags, video effects, device and account settings. The more a user engages with certain types of content, the better the algorithm gets at surfacing relevant videos. According to Social Media Today, TikTok engineers have confirmed the algorithm places more weight on recent watches and interactions in order to keep recommendations fresh and tailored in real-time.
In summary, TikTok’s powerful FYP algorithm figures out user preferences through advanced artificial intelligence. It then constantly fine-tunes video recommendations to keep each person engaged and entertained by the content they like. This personalization is key to helping certain videos go viral to wider audiences.
Source: The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral
User Engagement
User engagement is a critical metric that TikTok’s algorithm analyzes to determine which videos go viral. The main factors that contribute to user engagement on TikTok are likes, comments, and shares.
Likes are the most basic form of engagement on TikTok. When a user likes a video, it signals to the algorithm that the content resonates with viewers. Videos with high like counts tend to get promoted more by TikTok. According to research by Iconosquare, the average TikTok video gets 5 likes per 1,000 views. Popular creators or viral videos can achieve much higher like ratios.
Comments also indicate that viewers are actively engaged with a video. The conversation and discussion generated in the comments boosts a video’s rankings. TikTok rewards videos that spark discussion and debate in the comments. An analysis by Pentos found that videos with higher comment rates tend to have better overall user engagement and a greater chance of going viral.
Sharing or reposting content is another form of engagement. When users share a video, it spreads the content to new audiences. TikTok wants videos to gain exposure beyond the original poster’s own followers. Effective hashtagging and compelling content inspire shares, which signal to the algorithm that a video should reach more users.
Watch Time
One of the most important factors in determining if a TikTok video will go viral is watch time. TikTok’s algorithm favors videos that keep viewers engaged and watching for longer periods of time. The longer a user watches your video, the more TikTok will push it out to new viewers. According to research from TikTok, videos with higher average watch times have more opportunities to go viral.
There are several strategies you can use to increase watch time on your TikTok videos:
- Create looping or transition videos that seamlessly flow into the next clip
- Use text overlays and captions to engage viewers throughout the video
- Tell a story that unfolds over the course of the video to keep viewers watching
- Tease surprises or cliffhangers near the end of the video to prevent viewers from clicking away
- Keep the video visually interesting by changing up scenes, camera angles, etc.
The more compelling you can make your entire video, the better chance it has of being promoted by TikTok’s algorithm and going viral. Focus on holding viewer attention from start to finish.
Hashtags
Using trending and relevant hashtags is one of the most effective ways to increase views and engagement on TikTok. When a video uses a hashtag that is currently popular, it is more likely to end up on users’ For You pages (Trend Discovery: Popular Hashtags On TikTok). Some of the most widely used hashtags include #foryou, #fyp, and #viral, which users specifically search for to find trending content.
Researching and including the top trending hashtags each week or day can give videos a significant boost. Sources like SocialPilot (180+ Trending TikTok Hashtags To Achieve Stellar TikTok …) and Meltwater (The Best TikTok Hashtags For More Views – Meltwater) track the latest viral hashtags. Using niche-specific hashtags related to the content can also help reach a relevant target audience.
In general, using a mix of around 5-10 well-chosen, timely hashtags in the caption can dramatically increase the chances of a TikTok video going viral.
Sounds
One of the biggest factors for a TikTok video going viral is the use of popular sounds. TikTok has a feature called “trending sounds” that showcases the top sounds being used on the platform. Sounds that gain a lot of traction will be featured in this section, which then inspires more users to utilize the sound in their own videos. According to TikTok’s trending sounds page, some of the most viral sounds in recent times include hits like “No Roots” by Alice Merton and “Say So” by Doja Cat.
TikTok also has a designated Viral Sounds page that compiles popular sounds that have gone viral. Some examples include the “Oh No” song and the popular “M to the B” sound. Users looking for ideas can browse these pages to find trending sounds that are likely to help their videos gain more traction. When a sound gains enough momentum, it can spread across the platform extremely quickly as more and more users hop on the trend.
In summary, catching on to rising popular sounds early and using them creatively in videos is a key tactic for getting content to go viral on TikTok.
Duets and Stitches
On TikTok, Duets and Stitches provide users with the ability to repost and collaborate on content. Duets allow users to create a video that is split-screen with someone else’s video. This allows for real-time reactions and collaborations. Stitches allow users to clip and integrate parts of other videos into their own new video. Stitches are useful for elaborating on a topic or continuing a discussion started by someone else (https://www.kapwing.com/resources/tiktok-stitch-vs-duet-what-is-the-difference/).
When used effectively, Duets and Stitches help drive engagement and build communities on TikTok. They allow creators to put their own spin on existing trends and content. TikTok heavily promotes these collaborative video formats, as they tend to perform very well and go viral (https://www.dashhudson.com/blog/tiktok-stitch-vs-duet).
Influencers
TikTok influencers with large followings can have a significant impact on making a video go viral. According to The Impact of TikTok Influencers – Most Famous …, creators like Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Loren Gray, and Zach King all have massive audiences on TikTok. When these mega-influencers like, duet, or stitch a video, it immediately exposes that content to millions of new viewers. TikTok recognizes influencers’ ability to drive engagement and views, so their interactions with a video serve as strong signals to the algorithm about the content’s potential virality.
According to TikTok’s own Influencers channel page, videos associated with top influencers regularly generate tens of millions of views. The algorithm picks up on these viewing patterns and begins recommending the viral videos to more and more users. In essence, influencers kickstart the viral process on TikTok. Their large, loyal fanbases will engage with any video the influencer posts about, even from smaller creators. This initial boost in views, likes, comments, and shares helps a video gain authority in the eyes of the algorithm.
Timing
Posting at peak times when more users are actively scrolling through TikTok can help get your videos in front of more eyeballs. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the best times to post on TikTok are Mondays at 12 PM and 4 PM, Tuesdays at 4 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM, and 3 PM, Wednesdays at 1 PM and 2 PM, Thursdays at 5 AM, 3 PM, and 6 PM, Fridays at 10 AM and 3 PM, Saturdays at 7 AM, 11 AM, and 8 PM, and Sundays at 11 AM and 2 PM.1 Catching users during these active periods gives your video the chance to gain more views right after posting, which in turn can boost it in TikTok’s algorithm.
Conclusion
There are many factors that contribute to a video going viral on TikTok. The platform’s algorithm looks at watch time, user engagement through likes, comments, shares, and more. Using popular hashtags and sounds can help get a video in front of more users. Timing of posting as well as collaborating with influencers are other strategies creators use. But ultimately, producing creative and entertaining content that resonates with viewers is key to achieving virality on TikTok.
In summary, TikTok’s recommendation system considers metrics like session watch time and user interactions to determine which videos to surface. Combining this algorithmic promotion with strategic hashtag and sound use, influencer collaborations, and posting at peak times can give videos the best shot at going viral. But nothing is guaranteed, so creating quality content that connects with the TikTok community remains essential.
