TikTok is a popular short-form video app that has exploded in popularity in recent years. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users globally (Source). On TikTok, videos can go “viral” when they quickly gain widespread popularity and are widely shared on the platform and beyond. A video is generally considered viral on TikTok if it receives hundreds of thousands or millions of views and shares in a short timeframe.
Viral videos on TikTok tap into trends, humor, talented creators, or some other captivating attribute that resonates with users. TikTok’s algorithm is designed to help surface and promote viral content by analyzing factors like watch time and engagement. Viral TikTok videos can launch creators to TikTok fame and spread cultural memes and popular songs/sounds.
Definition of ‘Viral’ on TikTok
There is no definitive view count that classifies a TikTok video as “viral”, but generally videos that reach over 1 million views quickly can be considered viral hits. According to Reddit users, videos with just 1,000 views in the first hour and 10,000 views in the first 24 hours from a small account (less than 100 followers) indicate a viral trajectory [1]. For larger accounts, videos that significantly outperform their normal view counts could also be deemed viral.
In addition to view counts, engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares can signify a viral video. A viral TikTok will typically have like and comment counts at 10-30% of the total view count. The more people who engage with, react to, and share the video, the more viral it becomes.
So in summary, while there is no set threshold, a TikTok video with over 1 million views within a day, high engagement relative to views, and rapid growth beyond a creator’s normal viewership has likely gone viral.
TikTok Algorithm
The TikTok algorithm determines what videos to show users on their For You page (FYP). It learns what content a user enjoys based on how they interact with videos. According to The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral, the main factors the algorithm considers are:
- Which accounts a user follows
- Comments a user has posted
- Captions on videos
- Sounds used in videos
- Language preference set in account
- Country setting
As explained by The TikTok Algorithm Explained, the more a user engages with certain types of content by liking, commenting, sharing, etc., the more the algorithm will show them similar content. The FYP is customized based on each user’s interests and engagement. The algorithm gets smarter over time to better predict the kind of content each user wants to see.
Peak Times for TikTok Usage
Research shows that usage of TikTok tends to peak at certain times each day and week. According to Shopify, the most popular times for people to be on TikTok are Wednesday evenings and Friday afternoons. Specifically, engagement spikes between 7-9pm on Wednesdays when people are relaxing after work. Fridays also see high usage in the afternoon between 1-4pm when people are finishing up their work week.
Weekends tend to have steadier TikTok usage throughout the day as people have more leisure time. Sundays in particular tend to be a popular day on TikTok. According to SocialPilot, Sundays see TikTok traffic spike in the late morning around 10-11am as people scroll through content over their morning coffee. Usage remains relatively high throughout the afternoon and early evening on Sundays.
In summary, the peak times for TikTok each week are Wednesday evenings, Friday afternoons, and leisurely Sundays when people have free time to scroll through TikTok.
Sunday Usage Patterns
Sunday has developed some unique trends and usage patterns on TikTok.
Many users participate in the “Sunday Reset” trend, where they post restocking, organizing, or cleaning videos as they reset and prepare for the new week (Source). This trend stems from the motivation and productivity many feel on Sundays as they wrap up the weekend.
Sundays also see high engagement as users relax, scroll through TikTok to see weekly recaps, and catch up any trends they may have missed during the busy work week (Source).
Overall, Sundays have established themselves as a key day for engagement, motivation, and preparation on TikTok as users reset and recharge for the week ahead.
Best Times for Posting
Research shows that the best times to post on TikTok for maximum views and engagement are early morning and late evening. According to one study, the optimal times to publish TikTok videos on Sunday are:
- 5-7 AM (Sunday morning)
- 6-8 PM (Sunday evening)
These times tend to coincide with when users are just waking up or winding down for the night. Posting during these windows allows your content to be among the first videos people see when they open the app in the morning or evening.
In particular, Sunday evenings after 6 PM see a spike in TikTok usage as people relax after the weekend. Uploading fresh content as usage ramps up can help put your videos in front of more viewers.
Overall, the key is being strategic with when you publish and taking advantage of times when more users are actively scrolling through their TikTok feeds.
Factors for Virality
There are several key elements that tend to make TikTok videos go viral. According to research, viral TikTok videos often have the following characteristics:
- Relatability – Videos that viewers can relate to on a personal level tend to be more shareable. TikTok users like seeing content that represents their own lives and experiences.
- Humor – Funny, hilarious videos frequently gain traction and spread rapidly across TikTok. Comedy is a classic ingredient for virality.
- Originality – Fresh, unique content stands out. TikTok users are drawn to creative videos showcasing something they’ve never seen before.
- Usefulness – Educational, how-to, and lifehack videos teach viewers something new. These practical, informative videos often trend.
- Emotional appeal – Heartwarming, inspiring videos that make people feel something strongly also have viral potential.
- Trendjacking – Piggybacking on current hashtag challenges, memes, or pop culture phenomena can help videos take off.
Videos that incorporate multiple viral elements tend to perform best. Analyzing past viral hits can provide a blueprint for crafting contagious content.
Case Studies
There are several great examples of viral TikTok hits that were posted on Sundays. Some of the most popular include:
The “Flip the Switch” challenge went viral after celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez posted their own versions on a Sunday in March 2020. The videos showed pairs of people swapping outfits when Drake’s song “Nonstop” played the lyric “I just flipped a switch.” Within days, the hashtag #fliptheswitch had over 8 billion views.
Comedian Brittany Broski’s “Kombucha Girl” video exploded after she posted it on a Sunday in August 2019. Her expressive reaction tasting kombucha for the first time quickly became a viral meme format copied by many others. The original video gained over 36 million likes.
Sunday is a popular day for dance challenges to take off, like the “Renegade” created by teenager Jalaiah Harmon. After she first posted it, Charli D’Amelio and others quickly adopted the dance moves in their own videos on Sundays, skyrocketing the trend. #renegade has now amassed over 29 billion views on TikTok.
The intricately choreographed dance to KCamp’s “Lottery” went viral after several users like @ohbukster posted their versions on Sundays in January 2020. The hashtag #youjustgotservedbykcamp accrued over 78 million views as more people started sharing their own dance videos.
Other viral hashtag challenges like #boredathome also tend to peak on Sundays when people are looking for entertaining content to enjoy over the weekend. Posting fun, creative videos on Sundays allows them to gain early momentum before erupting in popularity.
Tips for Going Viral
One of the most important tips for going viral on TikTok is to follow current trends and challenges. As this article notes, trending sounds, hashtags, effects, and concepts give videos a better chance at getting picked up by the algorithm and thus going viral. Pay attention to what challenges and trends are popular at the moment, and find a creative way to put your own spin on them.
Additionally, creating content around broadly relatable topics will resonate with a larger audience. According to this video, aiming for universal themes and emotions like funny animals, family bonds, overcoming challenges, etc. gives you the best shot at viral fame on TikTok. Really focus on concepts that will appeal to viewers across demographics.
It’s also key to encourage engagement through likes, shares, duets, stitches, and comments. The more people interact with your video, the more TikTok’s algorithm will promote it. Ask questions, invite people to particpate in a challenge, or do anything else you can think of to get your audience invested in your content.
Conclusion
To summarize, Sunday is a popular day for TikTok usage, but the specific peak times for virality depend on several factors. Based on the app’s algorithm and typical user behavior patterns, the late morning and afternoon hours tend to see more engagement and potential for videos to go viral. This is driven by users casually browsing during weekend downtime. The evening can also be effective, as people wind down from their day and seek entertaining content.
However, other considerations like timing with trending sounds, targeting international audiences, and the specific goals of your content also impact performance. The most important tips are to analyze your own audience, experiment with different posting times, make high-quality creative videos, and utilize relevant strategic hashtags. While virality can be unpredictable, you can maximize your chances of success by understanding the changing TikTok landscape and publishing when your followers are most active.
In summary, analyzing your target demographic and posting fresh, captivating content on Sunday between 11am-5pm is a good place to start. But staying adaptable and tracking your results over time will provide the real insights needed to unlock better viewership and go viral.
