TikTok has experienced explosive growth since launching internationally in 2017. The video-sharing social networking service has become one of the world’s most popular apps with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022 (Source). TikTok’s initial growth was driven by Gen Z users, but it has since expanded to all demographics. The app is especially popular with younger audiences, with 60% of its global users being between the ages of 16 and 24.
TikTok’s rise has significantly shaped internet culture and online trends. Its signature short-form videos lend themselves to viral memes, dances, challenges, and other content formats that often spread rapidly on the platform and beyond. The app has launched the careers of many top influencers and creators. It has also impacted the music industry, with songs gaining popularity through association with viral TikTok videos. Overall, TikTok has had a major cultural impact and displays no signs of slowing growth.
Most Followers
When it comes to the most followers on TikTok, a few top creators stand out from the pack. Here are the top 5 TikTok accounts ranked by total followers:
1. Charli D’Amelio – 142.9 million followers (Source)
2. Khaby Lame – 142.5 million followers (Source)
3. Bella Poarch – 87.5 million followers (Source)
4. Addison Rae – 86.8 million followers
5. Spencer Polanco Knight – 58.2 million followers
D’Amelio and Lame have jockeyed back and forth for the #1 spot, but as of now D’Amelio holds the top position as the most followed person on TikTok. She initially rose to fame for her viral dance videos. Lame (@khaby.lame), known for his comedy/reaction videos, is right on her heels at #2. Poarch, Rae, and Knight round out the top 5, each with massive followings in the tens of millions.
Most Liked Videos
Some of the most popular TikTok videos have racked up likes in the tens of millions. Here are the top 5 most liked TikTok videos of all time:
1. Bella Poarch – “M to the B” – 87.6 million likes (Source)
2. Zach King – “Harry Potter” – 86.2 million likes (Source)
3. Spencer X – “My Heart Will Go On” beatbox – 81.4 million likes (Source)
4. Riyaz Aly – “Tik tok famous” remix – 77.7 million likes (Source)
5. Dixie D’Amelio – “Be Happy” dance – 75.5 million likes (Source)
Fastest Growing
Some of the fastest growing TikTok accounts in 2023 have seen massive growth over the past year. Here are the top 5 fastest growing accounts:
1. @ImranKhanOfficial – This account belonging to Pakistani politician Imran Khan grew from 400,000 followers to over 4 million in 2022, an increase of 900%. His viral videos criticizing government policies contribute to his meteoric rise.
2. @PTIOfficial – The official account for Imran Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) grew from 1.5 million to over 13 million followers in 2022, an 867% increase. They post official party updates and speeches.
3. @khaby.lame – Italian TikToker Khaby Lame saw his follower count explode from 1 million to 142 million in 2022, a massive 14,100% growth. His funny reaction videos struck a chord worldwide.
4. @charlidamelio – Charli D’Amelio was already popular in 2021, but still managed to grow her followers from 78 million to 146 million, an 87% jump. She’s currently the most followed person on TikTok.
5. @bellapoarch – Model and singer Bella Poarch went from 3.7 million followers to 86 million in 2022, a huge 2,227% increase. Her lipsync videos and pop songs resonated widely.
Most Engaging
When looking at engagement on TikTok, it’s important to look beyond just follower count and consider engagement rate. Engagement rate measures how well an account’s followers are interacting with their content through likes, comments, shares, etc. According to research by Mediakix, some of the most engaging TikTok accounts based on this metric include:
@tombrodie – With an engagement rate of 21.27%, this former Vine creator makes comedy sketches and parody videos. Tom Brodie’s ridiculous humor resonates with his 7 million followers.
@mr.hatch – AKA Ross Smith, this teacher-turned-comic has an 18.14% engagement rate thanks to relatable videos about adult life. His 4.2 million followers love his humorous take on everyday struggles.
@holt – 16-year-old musician Holt Morris boasts a 17.48% engagement rate by leveraging his songwriting and ukulele skills. His wholesome original songs are a hit with his 2.6 million fans.
While these accounts may not have the most followers, their high engagement rates show they are creating content that truly connects with their audience. Focusing on fun, engaging videos can be more worthwhile for TikTok creators than chasing follower count alone.
Best Dancers
Some of the most talented and entertaining dancers on TikTok have amassed massive audiences on the platform. According to City Dance Studios (https://citydance.org/best-tiktok-dancers/), the best TikTok dancers with huge followings include:
Charli D’Amelio is the most-followed creator on TikTok with over 142 million followers. She blew up doing short dances and has since expanded into other content. Her elite dance skills are on full display in her intricate choreography and seamless transitions.
Michael Le has over 43 million followers on TikTok enthralled by his smooth urban dance style. His ability to quickly pick up viral dances while adding his own flavor has fueled his rise.
The Rybka Twins have built an audience of over 32 million followers with their jaw-dropping acrobatics and gymnastics-infused dances. Their flexibility and athleticism allow them to perform stunts few can replicate.
Sofia Wylie’s innovative contemporary dance incorporated with trending tracks has earned her 30 million followers. Her ability to act and emote through movement sets her apart.
Top Influencers
Many celebrities have amassed huge followings on TikTok, showcasing their talents and creativity to millions of fans. According to the Wikipedia article List of most-followed TikTok accounts, the most followed TikTok account belongs to Khaby Lame with over 161.8 million followers. Other top celebrities with massive TikTok followings include:
Charli D’Amelio – The 17-year old is the second most followed account with over 146.8 million followers. She rocketed to fame with her viral dance videos.
Addison Rae – With over 108.7 million followers, she is known for her dances and comedic lip-syncing videos.
Bella Poarch – At 104.2 million followers, she went viral with her lip-sync to M to the B.
Will Smith – The movie star has over 64.4 million followers where he showcases his comedic and creative side.
Dwayne Johnson – “The Rock” entertains his 49.2 million followers with workout videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and funny sketches.
Jason Derulo – With 44.5 million followers, the singer shares his singing and dancing talents through creative TikToks.
Selena Gomez – She engages her 40.7 million fans with lip syncs, cooking videos, and behind-the-scenes looks.
The top celebrities clearly know how to leverage TikTok to expand their brand and connect with fans in new creative ways. Their massive followings showcase their influence and star power on the platform.
Viral Sounds
TikTok is known for its viral sounds that often take off and trend for weeks or months at a time. Some of the most popular viral sounds on TikTok in recent times include:
“Jiggle Jiggle” by Duke & Jones and Louis Theroux – This catchy sound was used in over 10 million videos as users danced and lip-synced to the lyrics. It trended in early 2022. (Source)
“Just a Cloud Away” by Pharrell Williams – The soothing melody of this sound set a chill vibe in over 4 million TikTok videos in 2022. (Source)
“Meet Me At Our Spot” by THE ANXIETY, WILLOW & Tyler Cole – This indie pop song inspired a hugely viral dance challenge that users are still doing in 2023. The sound has been used in over 24 million videos.
“Day ‘n’ Nite” by Kid Cudi – The hip-hop artist’s 2008 hit song became massively trending again in 2022 thanks to a slowed-down remix version that inspired brooding lip-syncs.
Viral sounds often spread quickly on TikTok and get recycled in new videos, shaping meme culture and pop music trends. The most catchy and danceable sounds have the most potential to blow up in popularity.
Funniest Accounts
Some of the most popular and hilarious TikTok accounts feature creators who excel at comedy videos. These accounts consistently produce funny and entertaining content that goes viral.
One of the most well-known comedic accounts is @tabithalauder, who entertains her 4.5 million followers with funny skits and impersonations. Her spot-on imitations of characters like Ms. Trunchbull from Matilda make her one of TikTok’s funniest stars.
The account @charlidamelio, with over 146 million followers, also produces some hilarious comedy sketches and duets, in addition to her dancing videos. Fans love Charli’s collaborations with addisonre, where their comedic chemistry shines.
Other accounts recognized for their funny videos include @bellapoarch, known for her amusing facial expressions, and @brittany_broski, who went mega-viral for her “Kombucha Girl” video. This diversity of comedic styles keeps TikTok fans laughing daily.
Conclusion
2022 was an exciting year on TikTok, with many entertaining accounts and viral trends emerging. Some of the standout TikTok accounts included Charli D’Amelio, Khaby Lame, and Bella Poarch, who attracted millions of followers with their dancing, comedy sketches, and lip-sync videos. Viral trends like the Time Warp Scan and the Bones dance took over people’s For You pages. Food trends like baked feta pasta and pancake cereal inspired countless cooking videos. And songs like Måneskin’s “Beggin'” and Meg Thee Stallion’s “Thot Shit” provided the soundtrack for millions of TikTok dances and clips. While it’s impossible to definitively say any one TikTok account is the “hottest,” the platform allows diverse creators to find an audience and thrive. The variety of trends and memes that went viral reflects TikTok’s ongoing evolution as a hub for entertainment, creativity, and online culture.
