TikTok, the popular short-form video sharing app, has become a hotbed for viral trends and challenges. The platform’s algorithm is designed to quickly amplify content that resonates with users, making it easy for challenges to spread like wildfire. TikTok challenges typically involve users creating their own video responding to a call-to-action, using a specific sound, dance move, gesture or meme. Some challenges, like the viral #InMyFeelings challenge, generate billions of video views as people around the world participate. Other challenges spark controversy for encouraging dangerous or inappropriate behavior. But what ultimately makes a TikTok challenge go mega-viral? This article will explore the most popular TikTok challenges, analyzing why they took off and their cultural impact.
What Makes a TikTok Challenge Go Viral?
There are several key factors that can help a TikTok challenge go viral and gain widespread popularity:
Relatable/funny/entertaining premise – Challenges that are based on funny or entertaining ideas that many people can relate to have the best chance of sparking engagement and shares. The premise needs to resonate with a broad audience.
Simple participation – Challenges should be easy to replicate. They need simple mechanics that make it straightforward for users to create their own version of the challenge.
Catchy song/music – TikTok is a music-centric platform, so challenges that are set to popular or catchy songs tend to gain more traction. The right music can help a challenge spread quickly.
Creativity/humor – Challenges that inspire creative or humorous interpretations from users often go more viral as people want to share the funny and unique videos.
Influencer/celebrity participation – Getting big TikTok creators or celebrities to participate in a challenge can instantly give it a boost in visibility and credibility.
Taggable hashtag – Having a unique branded hashtag makes it easy for users to find, view and participate in the trend.
Virality – Once a challenge starts gaining momentum, the algorithm begins promoting it, fueling further growth. Virality begets more virality on TikTok.
Timing – Challenges that connect to current events/holidays or tap into current trends/songs tend to perform better and spread wider.
Most Popular TikTok Challenges
TikTok challenges go viral for a variety of reasons. Some of the factors that can make a TikTok challenge popular include:
– Simple, easy-to-replicate concepts. Challenges that are straightforward for users to understand and participate in tend to gain more traction. Examples include dance challenges like the Renegade that give step-by-step dance moves.
– Entertainment value. Challenges that are humorous, lighthearted, or show interesting skills and stunts capture attention. The Flip the Switch challenge was fun for users to film themselves instantly switching outfits.
– Creativity. Trends that encourage users to get creative with videos, effects, sounds etc. can go viral as people put their own spin. Some examples are outfit and makeup transformation challenges.
– Pop culture relevance. Challenges inspired by or featuring trending music, celebrities, characters, and media perform well by capitalizing on existing hype.
– Shareability. Challenges that inspire users to get friends and family involved and share videos widely help accelerate growth. Many challenges explicitly ask users to tag others to participate.
While the specific topic varies, these attributes of simplicity, engagement, imagination, relevance, and shareability are consistent themes among the biggest TikTok viral challenges.
#InMyFeelings Challenge
The #InMyFeelings challenge, also known as the #InMyFeelingsDance challenge, originated in June 2018 and quickly went viral on the social media platform TikTok. The challenge was inspired by rapper Drake’s hit song “In My Feelings” from his 2018 album Scorpion.
The dance craze started when comedian and internet personality Shiggy posted a video of himself dancing to “In My Feelings” outside of a slowly moving car. In the video, Shiggy exits the car and does a hilarious dance as the car continues rolling beside him. The video instantly went viral, garnering over 6 million views in just a few days (Source).
Shiggy’s video inspired countless others to try the challenge by recording themselves exiting a slowly moving car and dancing along to the lyrics of Drake’s song. Soon the hashtag #InMyFeelingsChallenge took off on TikTok as users imitated and put their own spin on Shiggy’s original dance.
Popularity and Impact
The #InMyFeelings challenge saw massive popularity in the summer of 2018. According to Dictionary.com [1], over 10,000 TikTok videos were made featuring the #InMyFeelings challenge in just a few days after it went viral. Celebrities like Will Smith, Ciara, and Kevin Hart all posted their own versions.
The dangerous aspect of hopping out of moving cars led to some injuries. Police issued warnings about the challenge being “super dangerous” according to CBS News [2]. Thankfully the injuries were fairly minor, but it illustrated the need for responsible viral challenges.
Overall, the astounding participation demonstrated the power of TikTok to make dances spread widely. #InMyFeelings cemented TikTok’s reputation as a launchpad for viral challenges.
#FlipTheSwitch Challenge
The #FlipTheSwitch challenge went viral in March 2020 and became one of TikTok’s most popular challenges that year. The challenge involves two people standing in front of a mirror, dancing to Drake’s song “Nonstop.” When Drake says “I just flipped the switch,” the pair swaps positions and clothes, with one person now closer to the mirror.
The challenge was started by @theestallion, who posted the original video with her girlfriend on TikTok on February 23, 2020. The video quickly accrued millions of views and inspired countless others to create their own versions. Part of the appeal was the humor of seeing people unexpectedly swap places and outfits. The challenge also allowed for creativity in choreography and video editing.
According to one source, the hashtag #FlipTheSwitch has been viewed over 5 billion times on TikTok (https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a31283141/flip-the-switch-challenge-tiktok/). Stars like Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez and even Michelle Obama joined in on the trend, further fueling its popularity. The challenge was a lighthearted viral craze that offered some entertainment during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Popularity and Impact
The #FlipTheSwitch challenge took TikTok by storm in March 2020, with over 10 million videos created using the popular Drake song “Nonstop.”1 The challenge involves two people standing in front of a mirror, with one person in a dressed up outfit while the other is more casual. When the beat drops in the Drake song, the pair “flips the switch” and switches clothes and positions, dancing while doing so.
Numerous celebrities helped popularize the #FlipTheSwitch challenge by participating and sharing their videos on social media. Some notable celebrity takes on the challenge include Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, Elizabeth Warren and Kate McKinnon on Saturday Night Live, and Candace Parker and daughter Lailaa. Even Michelle and Barack Obama posted their own #FlipTheSwitch video in support of voter registration.
Beyond the viral videos, the #FlipTheSwitch challenge created a massive trend on TikTok and other social platforms and helped promote Drake’s song “Nonstop.” The catchy dance moves, creative outfits, and element of surprise when the switch happens made it an appealing challenge. Its popularity underscores how TikTok challenges can capture the public imagination and influence internet culture.
Other Notable Challenges
Outside of the #InMyFeelings and #FlipTheSwitch challenges, there have been other very popular TikTok challenges that have gone viral and been widely attempted by users. Two other notable challenges include:
The Silhouette Challenge, which had TikTokers create creative and artistic videos posing behind a red filter to show their silhouette. This challenge took off in early 2021 and became a popular trend to showcase dance skills and creativity. See examples at this Insider article.
The Mug Life Challenge, where users tried to stack as many mugs on their body as possible without them falling. This quirky challenge took off in late 2020 and became a fun and lighthearted viral trend. Compilation videos showcasing the challenge have millions of views. See examples on YouTube.
The Anatomy of a Viral TikTok Challenge
There are several key elements that tend to make a TikTok challenge go viral and capture the imagination of users:
Catchy Hashtag – A short, memorable hashtag that’s easy to search for and allows users to find all related videos. Popular examples include #InMyFeelingsChallenge and #FlipTheSwitch.
Engaging Music/Audio – Upbeat, trendy music that people enjoy dancing or lip syncing to. The right audio clip can help a challenge spread quickly.
Easy to Replicate – Simple, fun steps that are accessible for most users to try themselves. Challenges have to strike the right balance of being interesting but not too complicated.
Humor/Creativity – Viral challenges often have a humorous or creative element that makes watching and creating the videos entertaining.
Surprise/Unexpected Moments – Challenges that have an element of surprise or an unexpected twist tend to capture attention and get shared more.
Participation of Influencers – Support from top creators and celebrities can give a challenge the initial momentum it needs to take off within the TikTok community.
Relatability – Challenges need to have a universal appeal that makes everyday users want to get involved and share their own take.
According to sources like Hootsuite, these factors help give a TikTok challenge the ingredients to go viral and spread rapidly across the platform.
Conclusion
Of all the viral TikTok challenges that have taken the platform by storm, the #InMyFeelings challenge stands out as the most popular. Propelled by Drake’s hit song “In My Feelings,” this challenge saw millions of users creating videos of themselves dancing alongside moving cars. Its popularity was immense, permeating into mainstream culture with celebrities like Will Smith taking part.
The impact of these viral challenges on TikTok cannot be understated. They allow creativity, community, and fun to spread rapidly on the platform. With a simple hashtag, a viral dance or meme can connect strangers across the world almost overnight. While some challenges spark concern over dangerous acts, the most popular challenges are generally harmless—their main power being bringing joy, amusement, and togetherness through shared experiences.
