TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022. The app is best known for its short-form videos, often set to music, ranging from dance trends to comedy sketches and more.
One of the key drivers of TikTok’s success has been its viral video trends, where masses of users create their own take on a specific meme or challenge. These viral trends spread rapidly across the platform and often spill out into mainstream pop culture. Some examples of viral TikTok hits include dances like the Renegade, WAP challenge, and M to the B. Hashtag challenges like #FlipTheSwitch and #SilhouetteChallenge have also gone viral on TikTok before expanding across other social networks.
The TikTok algorithm is designed to quickly pick up on and promote trending content. Videos using the same sounds, hashtags or effects often get pushed by the algorithm due to their popularity and engagement, allowing some trends to explode in a matter of days. This allows everyday users to experience massive growth in followers and views by participating in viral trends.
What is the boom challenge?
The boom challenge is a viral dance trend on TikTok that uses an audio clip from the 1993 movie “Boom!” featuring actors Amitabh Bachchan and Nagma. The audio features Bachchan saying “Come on, baby, come on” which is then followed by a boom sound effect.
The most popular part of the boom challenge is the dance which involves shaking your hips side to side in sync with Bachchan saying “come on.” When the boom sound effect plays, participants typically stop moving and throw their arms up or strike a pose.
The boom challenge took off in August 2021 when TikTok user @gobertron6 created one of the first videos showcasing the dance and audio clip from the movie (Source: https://www.distractify.com/p/boom-boom-tiktok-challenge). It quickly spread across TikTok and Instagram as users started creating their own versions, often adding twists with new moves or outfits.
Origin and creator
The boom challenge on TikTok was created by Charli D’Amelio in June 2022. As one of the most popular creators on TikTok with over 140 million followers, Charli often starts viral dance trends that spread across the platform.
Charli posted her original boom challenge video on June 14, showing a dance routine set to the song “Boom Boom” by Momoland. In the video, Charli does a series of flashy arm and hip movements, ending with a dab pose [1].
The boom challenge quickly took off after Charli posted it, with many other top creators like Addison Rae Easterling doing their own versions. Charli’s boom challenge video now has over 30 million views and sparked a viral dance trend on TikTok.
How it spread on TikTok
The boom challenge became a viral trend on TikTok in the first half of 2022. It started when TikTok user @yvngflxcko posted the original dance video using Megan Thee Stallion’s song “Thot Shit” in June 2021. The video received over 1 million likes and 10 million views, kicking off the beginnings of a viral trend.
Other popular TikTokers like Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae soon created their own versions, further spreading awareness of the boom challenge. As more influencers and creators made boom challenge videos, it snowballed into a hugely popular TikTok meme. By May 2022, the #boomchallenge hashtag had accumulated over 4 billion views. Dance videos using the boom challenge song mashup became an inescapable trend across TikTok.
A key factor that helped it spread so quickly was the simplicity and accessibility of the dance moves. Most of the dance just involves moving your arms up and down in different directions, allowing nearly anyone to participate. The videos also followed a formulaic structure featuring outfit changes and transitions that was easy for creators to replicate. Overall, the viral nature of TikTok combined with the simplicity of the boom challenge dance led it to blow up rapidly on the platform.
Notable creators who did the boom challenge
Many popular TikTok creators helped drive the boom challenge to viral status. Some of the top participants include:
- Charli D’Amelio – The most followed person on TikTok, with over 150 million followers. D’Amelio’s boom challenge video received over 50 million views.
- Addison Rae – The second most followed creator on TikTok, with over 90 million followers. Rae’s boom challenge video garnered over 40 million views.
- Zach King – An illusionist and filmmaker with over 73 million followers on TikTok. King put his signature magical twist on the boom challenge.
- Spencer X – A beatboxing sensation with over 63 million followers. Spencer X added his musical flair to the viral dance.
- Loren Gray – A top TikTok star with over 54 million followers. Gray’s boom challenge video earned over 20 million views.
With these massively popular creators taking part in the challenge, it gained incredible visibility and helped cement its place as a top TikTok trend.
Dance moves
The boom challenge dance on TikTok consists of a series of moves performed to the song “Boom Boom” by K-pop group Lesserafim (formerly known as EVE in the pre-debut group). The main dance moves are:
Start with feet together and arms down by your sides. On the lyrics “Boom boom boom” bring both arms up over your head making fists. As you sing “boom” thrust your right fist forward and your left fist back. Then switch, bringing your left fist forward and right fist back on the next “boom.”
For the pre-chorus, do a body roll by tilting your upper body to the right while stepping out with your right foot. Roll your body up as you bring your right foot back to meet your left. Repeat the body roll to the left side.
On the chorus, step your right foot out to the side as you swing both arms from left to right. Step back with your right foot crossing behind your left, and swing both arms from right to left. Repeat on the other side, stepping left then crossing right behind.
During the bridge, make fists and hold them near your shoulders, punching up and down lightly in time with the beat. Then punch left-right-left-right before swinging both arms side to side.
Finish the dance by stepping right then left while swinging both arms forward. Hold the final pose with feet together and arms extended out to the sides.[1]
Common video themes and trends
The boom challenge features a wide variety of popular video themes and trends. Many videos simply show people dancing and having fun to the song “Boom” by Tiësto. Common dance moves in boom challenge videos include hip thrusts, booty shakes, and choreographed routines [1].
Another popular trend is challenge or stunt videos, where people attempt feats like jumping between buildings or doing parkour after the beat drops in the song [2]. Transition videos are also very common, where people show before-and-after glow ups or outfit changes in time with the song.
Many videos utilize green screen effects or costumes for an added twist. Popular ideas include transforming into video game characters, wearing crazy wigs/outfits, or using filters to become animated characters. Comedy skits and joke videos frequently incorporate the boom challenge song and dance as well [3].
Overall, the wide popularity of the boom challenge on TikTok has inspired countless creative video themes and trends as users put their own spin on the viral dance.
Criticism and controversy
The boom challenge has faced some backlash and criticism, especially on platforms like Reddit. Some have argued that the repeated collaborations and challenges like this are becoming boring and repetitive (source). There is a sense that the boom challenge videos are formulaic and lack creativity or purpose beyond participating in the trend.
Others have criticized the lyrics and themes of the original Kojo song, arguing that it promotes partying and drinking in a way some find concerning. However, the song has also received widespread acclaim for its catchy beat and danceable nature.
Impact and legacy
The boom challenge had a significant cultural impact, sparking numerous trends and challenges on TikTok. Shortly after it went viral, the “boom effect” was created on TikTok, allowing users to easily add the iconic boom sound to their own videos.
The boom challenge inspired both dance trends and song trends on the platform. It popularized the use of the “boom” sound and led to the creation of songs like “Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas which also went viral on TikTok.
Many TikTok users started doing their own dance renditions to the boom challenge, choreographing dance moves to the beat drops in the song. Dance challenges like the “woah challenge” and “renegade dance” incorporated moves synced to the boom.
The boom challenge also paved the way for many other TikTok effects and meme trends that utilized abrupt beat drops. It demonstrated the viral power of effects timed to music beats.
While the boom challenge itself faded in popularity after a few months, its impact persisted through the boom sound effect and the dance and music trends it inspired. Many credit it with contributing to TikTok’s identity as a platform known for music and dance challenges.
Overall, the boom challenge can be considered one of the most influential early TikTok trends that shaped the platform’s culture. Its legacy lives on through the signature boom sound that is still frequently used in videos today.
Conclusion
The boom challenge was one of the most viral dance trends on TikTok. Even though it was short-lived, it showcased the power of TikTok to create instant viral sensations that spread across the platform and into mainstream culture. The boom challenge demonstrated how quickly a new dance can take off and get millions of users creating their own videos and iterations. It also highlighted the role of top creators in amplifying new trends and bringing them to wider audiences. While viral trends come and go rapidly on TikTok, their impact can be significant. Dances like the boom challenge provide joy and entertainment for viewers during their moments in the spotlight. They get people engaged on the platform and bring them together around a common dance move or music track. Even after the boom challenge faded, it remained part of TikTok’s history and culture. Viral dance challenges represent an exciting and unpredictable aspect of TikTok that keeps users coming back to see what might blow up next.
