The Origins of TikTok
TikTok was created by the Chinese tech company ByteDance. ByteDance launched the short video app Douyin in China in September 2016 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok). Douyin quickly gained popularity in China for its fun 15-second videos set to music. By January 2018, Douyin had become the most downloaded app in China (https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok).
The Launch of Douyin in China
TikTok originated from the Chinese video-sharing app Douyin, which was launched by the tech company ByteDance in September 2016 (Wikipedia). Initially released under the name A.me, Douyin was rebranded shortly after launch in December 2016. According to China Gravy, Douyin reached 100 million users within its first year. The app’s short video format and features for creating and sharing content resonated with Chinese users.
Douyin was created exclusively for the Chinese market, tailored specifically to local user preferences. As described by China Trading Desk, Douyin became rapidly popular in China as a leading short video platform after its launch in 2016.
Douyin Goes International as TikTok
The TikTok app was launched internationally in September 2017. The Chinese technology company ByteDance, which owned the popular Chinese version called Douyin, released TikTok to tap into markets outside of China.
At the time, the short video market was already gaining momentum globally through apps like Vine and Instagram. TikTok entered as a new player but was able to differentiate itself through its sophisticated video editing tools and AI recommendation system that quickly surfaced trending content and served users a highly-personalized feed.
According to Wikipedia, TikTok was launched in international markets because “ByteDance was unable to come to an agreement with the Chinese government in regards to the management and operations of Douyin, and so launched an international version of the app under the new name TikTok instead.” [1]
Early Adoption and Growth
TikTok saw rapid growth and adoption amongst teenagers and young adults since its launch. According to TikTok Revenue and Usage Statistics (2024), TikTok reached over 500 million monthly active users in 2018 just 2 years after launch. The majority of these early adopters were young people under the age of 25.
This initial growth was driven by TikTok’s fun, lighthearted content that resonated with young audiences. The app’s algorithm was designed to quickly identify users’ interests and preferences to serve them personalized video feeds. This created a highly engaging experience that kept young users coming back. TikTok also benefited from leveraging the existing user base of its predecessor Musically, which had cultivated an audience of lip-syncing teenagers.
By early 2020, TikTok had expanded beyond its initial teenage demographic. According to TikTok Statistics You Need to Know in 2024, TikTok reached 800 million monthly active users that year, with significant growth among users in their 20s and 30s. Strategic marketing partnerships and influencer collaborations attracted broader audiences. Still, teens and young adults have continued to make up TikTok’s primary user base.
The First TikTok Videos
The earliest videos on TikTok, then known as Douyin in China, featured primarily lip syncing and dancing. Users would film themselves mouthing the words and performing choreography to popular songs. This type of video content lent itself well to the 15-60 second format of Douyin and allowed users to showcase their personalities and talents through fun, creative videos.
One of the most influential early adopters who helped define the TikTok aesthetic with lip syncing videos was Jessica Mota. She gained a massive following from her videos miming to pop songs, which inspired many others to try out similar content. Other popular early lip sync creators included Gilmher Croes and Baby Ariel, among many others.
Dance challenges also exploded in popularity in Douyin’s early days. Trending dance videos would go viral as users rushed to create their own versions filmed in their bedrooms, cars or wherever they happened to be. Popular early dance challenges included the Amigo Handshake and 180 Hand Twist.
Influential Early Adopters
Certain popular creators helped drive TikTok’s growth in the early days. Some of the most influential early adopters on TikTok included:
Charli D’Amelio – She first started posting dance videos in 2019 and quickly amassed a huge following. By 2020, she became the most followed person on TikTok.
Zach King – He was already popular on YouTube and Instagram when he joined TikTok in 2018. King wowed audiences with his video editing “magic tricks” and illusions.
Loren Gray – She joined in 2016 when musical.ly was first taking off. Her lip-syncing and dance videos made her one of the top creators.
Baby Ariel – Joining musical.ly in 2015, she was one of the very first influencers on the platform. Her comedic skits and personality shone through.
Kristen Hancher – An early adopter in 2017, she posted lip-sync videos showcasing her vocals. Hancher was one of the fastest growing accounts at the time.
Jacob Sartorius – He gained a following from musical.ly, starting in 2016. His comedic sketches and lip-sync videos were widely shared.
Early influencers like these helped spread TikTok virally and showcase the creativity possible on the platform. Their innovative content was engaging for viewers, setting trends for others to follow.
TikTok Features that Drove Growth
TikTok stood out from other social media platforms thanks to innovative features that resonated with users. One key feature that fueled TikTok’s growth was the ability for users to duet with or react to other videos. Duets allowed users to record themselves side-by-side with another video, often creating comedic or creative combinations. According to an analysis by Maven, duets were likely the top engagement driver for TikTok, encouraging users to put their own spin on existing videos.
Reactions also enabled TikTokers to respond to videos by recording a short reaction video featuring themselves. Users loved being able to put their own stamp on viral content. As noted by the Growth Collective, these reactions helped spread trends far and wide across the platform. Both duets and reactions gave TikTok an interactive element that set it apart from the like and comment features prominent on sites like Instagram.
Cultural Impact
TikTok has had a major influence on internet culture. According to CNN, TikTok has contributed to the cultural conversation and changed how entire industries operate [1]. It has affected what we eat, watch and buy[1]. TikTok’s impact can be seen in viral food trends, dance crazes, fashion and even slang.
According to a study by MRC Data, TikTok has demonstrated the power of music and the importance it has for brands and creators[2]. TikTok has made obscure songs go viral and turned unknown artists into stars. The app has given rise to new music genres like “TikTok core”.
Viral TikTok videos can launch people to fame and have a ripple effect on culture[3]. Dances, slang and memes often spread from TikTok to the wider internet. TikTok has a powerful influence on defining pop culture and the zeitgeist.
The First Viral TikTok Hits
Certain viral videos and memes helped boost TikTok’s popularity in its early days. Some of the first videos to go viral on TikTok included clips of users dancing to pop songs, participating in meme challenges, and showcasing creative video effects.
One of the earliest viral hits was a video by user @jayversace, who posted a clip of himself dancing to the song “Lottery” by K Camp in 2016. The video quickly amassed over 300,000 likes. Another early popular meme was the “hit or miss” challenge, where users transformed their appearance back and forth while lip syncing to a snippet of the song “Hit or Miss” by Jacob Sartorius. These types of lip syncing and dance trends remained staples in TikTok’s emerging culture.
TikTok’s built-in effects and filters also paved the way for early viral videos. The Green Screen effect allowed creativity to flourish, like in the popular “oh na na na” meme. Other effects like slow motion, fast forward, and the face zoom effect added to the app’s appeal. Even basic effects like bunny ears and kitschy filters offered TikTokers engaging ways to express themselves and entertain audiences.
As these memes and effects spread across the platform in 2018-2019, TikTok cemented its reputation as a hub for fun, irreverent short-form video content. The app’s growth skyrocketed as more users joined to participate in trending challenges, showcase talents, and build audiences.
The Future of TikTok
TikTok continues to evolve but maintains its core features that have driven its meteoric growth. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular social media platforms in the world (CNN). However, TikTok shows no signs of slowing down and has ambitious plans for the future.
Some key areas of focus for TikTok’s future growth include expanding its creator ecosystem, developing more augmented reality effects and stickers, and enhancing its ecommerce capabilities (New York Times). TikTok will likely continue leveraging viral trends, music, challenges, and its powerful recommendation algorithm that keeps users endlessly scrolling.
While new features and functionalities will emerge, short-form vertical video sharing will remain core to the TikTok experience. TikTok has pioneered this format of social media entertainment and engagement that resonates powerfully with today’s mobile-first generations. While competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are catching up, TikTok remains the undisputed leader in short video sharing and will likely continue dominating this format in the future.
