TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Launched in 2016, TikTok allows users to create and share short videos set to music. Within just a few years, it has amassed over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. According to TikTok, there were over 2 billion downloads of the app by 2021, confirming its meteoric rise to popularity.
One of the keys to TikTok’s success has been its ability to create viral trends and launch the careers of many creators. Top TikTok personalities like Charli D’Amelio and Khaby Lame have gained massive followings through sharing creative, entertaining short videos. The app’s powerful algorithm is able to determine users’ interests and preferences to serve them personalized video feeds that keeps them coming back.
As TikTok continues to ingrain itself deeper into internet culture and daily life for many people, the competition for popularity and views on the platform grows ever fiercer. In this highly competitive environment, some TikTok creators have managed to rise above the rest to garner huge followings and become the most liked accounts. Examining these top accounts provides insight into what resonates most with TikTok’s broad user base.
Measuring Popularity on TikTok
On TikTok, popularity is primarily measured through metrics like likes, followers, and views. Likes indicate how much a specific piece of content resonates with viewers. The number of likes a creator accumulates across their content portfolio provides a gauge of their overall popularity. Followers represent a creator’s sustained audience – people who actively want to view more content from that creator. High follower counts signify an established, engaged viewership. Finally, views quantify how many times a video has been watched. More views means a video is reaching a wider audience. Though views don’t necessarily indicate appreciation, they help expose creators to new potential followers.
Tools like Countik (https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-analytics/) provide free analytics to track TikTok metrics for individual pieces of content as well as full profiles. Marketers aim to boost all three metrics of likes, followers, and views to maximize a TikTok account’s reach and impact.
Top 10 Most Liked TikTok Accounts
When looking at the most popular TikTok accounts, the total number of likes an account has received on their videos is one of the key metrics. According to Social Blade, which tracks TikTok stats, these are currently the top 10 TikTok accounts based on total likes:
- Charli D’Amelio – 151.9 million likes (Source)
- Susma❤️(anubhav) – 76.1 million likes (Source)
- Bella Poarch – 73.6 million likes (Source)
- Spencer X – 58.2 million likes (Source)
- Addison Rae – 56.8 million likes (Source)
- Kimberly Loaiza – 51.7 million likes (Source)
- Zach King – 46.9 million likes (Source)
- Loren Gray – 45.6 million likes (Source)
- Jason Derulo – 43.6 million likes (Source)
- Amelio Family – 38.4 million likes (Source)
As we can see, Charli D’Amelio is far and away the most liked account on TikTok with over 150 million total likes. She’s followed by Indian creator Susma and Filipino singer Bella Poarch in the #2 and #3 spots. Other top creators include magician Zach King, singer Jason Derulo, and the D’Amelio family account.
#1: Khaby Lame
Khaby Lame is a Senegalese-born TikToker based in Italy who became famous for his short comedy videos where he silently mocks overly complicated life hacks. According to his IMDb biography, Khaby was born on March 9, 2000 in Senegal and moved to Italy with his family when he was 1 year old [1]. He grew up in public housing in Chivasso, near Turin, and worked as a factory worker before being laid off in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. With extra time on his hands, Khaby began creating TikTok videos and quickly amassed a huge following. As of February 2022, he is the most followed account on TikTok with over 142 million followers.
Khaby Lame’s Path to Fame
Khaby Lame, originally from Senegal, moved to Italy as a teenager in search of better opportunities. For years, he worked low-paying factory jobs in Chivasso, Italy while sharing videos on TikTok as a hobby. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 and he lost his factory job, Khaby started dedicating more time to creating TikTok videos.
At first, his videos only received a few hundred views each. But in March 2020, one of Khaby’s videos went viral, getting over 1 million views. The video showed Khaby mocking an overcomplicated life hack by showing how to open a banana with just your hands. As Khaby continued posting his signature sarcastic reactions to absurd life hacks and other everyday situations, his following grew exponentially. By the end of 2020, Khaby had over 50 million followers and 1 billion likes on TikTok.
Khaby’s rise from unemployed factory worker to the most liked creator on TikTok all started with losing his job in 2020. With more free time on his hands during quarantine, Khaby was able to focus on creating relatable and humorous TikTok content that resonated widely across the platform. His path to fame seemed almost accidental, but his quick wit and natural charisma made him one of TikTok’s biggest success stories.
Khaby Lame’s Typical Video Style
Khaby Lame has become known for his signature video style where he reacts to absurd and overcomplicated “life hack” videos. As described by CNN, “In most of his clips, he lampoons the futile complexity of the purported life hack by humorously simplifying the solution” (CNN, 2021). Lame relies on his expressive face and body language to poke fun at the unnecessary effort required in these viral videos.
For example, Lame will respond to a video where someone opens a banana with a knife by peeling the banana with his hands. His signature style is to provide the obvious and easy solution to these silly “hacks” through his hilarious reactions. According to the New York Times, “Lame capitalized on the momentum of viral and often absurdly complicated life hack videos — slicing open a banana with a knife, using odd gadgets to squeeze out the last drops of toothpaste, opening a can without a can opener” (NYT, 2021). His content took off because he encapsulated the absurdity of these trends in short, funny, and insightful videos.
Why Khaby Lame’s Videos Resonate
A major factor behind Khaby Lame’s popularity is the relatable and humorous nature of his content. As noted by Train Me Social, “Many people can relate to the everyday struggles and annoyances that Khaby Lame hilariously calls out in his videos” (source). Lame often reacts to overly complicated life hack videos, using simple hand gestures and facial expressions to humorously convey that an easier method exists. This resonates with viewers who have experienced similar frustrations with convoluted solutions for everyday problems.
Additionally, as National World points out, Lame’s videos are easily understood globally since he relies on visual comedy without speaking (source). The universal appeal of his humorous reactions helps explain why he has become one of TikTok’s most popular creators. Overall, the combination of relatability and accessible physical comedy seems to drive the widespread viewer resonance with Khaby Lame’s content.
Other Top Creators by Likes
While Khaby Lame tops the list of most liked TikTok accounts, there are several other hugely popular creators that also have massive engagement in terms of likes. Here are brief highlights of some creators in the #2-10 spots for most liked:
Charli D’Amelio (@charlidameliio) – With over 151 million likes, this 17-year-old dancer is one of TikTok’s biggest stars. She posts fun dance videos and vlogs to her over 142 million followers.
Bella Poarch (@bellapoarch) – An American TikToker with over 146 million likes, Poarch went viral in 2020 for her lip-sync video to “M to the B.” She now posts a diverse range of content from comedy to music.
Spencer Knight (@spencerx) – Spencer is a popular beatboxer known for his sound effects videos. He has amassed over 111 million likes from his 31.7 million followers.
Zach King (@zachking) – Called a “digital wizard” for his creative video edits and magic tricks, King has gained 105 million likes on TikTok so far.
Kimberly Loaiza (@kimberly.loaiza) – A Mexican YouTuber and influencer, she brings her 27.8 million TikTok followers videos about family, comedy skits, and behind-the-scenes content.
Loren Gray (@lorengray) – One of TikTok’s first big stars, singer/influencer Gray has 102.6 million likes. She vlogs about music, fashion, and lifestyle topics.
TikTok’s Continued Growth
TikTok has seen meteoric growth and popularity over the past few years. As of January 2023, TikTok had over 1.5 billion monthly active users globally, up from 689 million in the same period last year (Businessofapps). The app was downloaded more than 200 million times just in the month of January 2023 alone.
A huge part of TikTok’s appeal is its addictive short-form video format that keeps users coming back. The app’s powerful recommendation algorithm is excellent at serving users personalized content that keeps them engaged. This has led to TikTok becoming a major force in internet culture, with popular videos, memes, and trends originating on the platform spreading to mainstream culture.
TikTok’s growth has been especially pronounced among Gen Z users. As of 2022, 67% of TikTok’s global audience was between the ages of 10 and 29 (Influencer Marketing Hub). Its popularity with younger demographics has established TikTok as the social media platform of the future. Brands and marketers are increasingly pivoting their strategies to capitalize on TikTok’s massive reach.
With its immersive short-video format and growth trajectory, TikTok promises to remain a dominant force in social media and culture for years to come.
Conclusion
In summary, Khaby Lame has become the most liked account on TikTok, surpassing Charli D’Amelio in March 2021. With 142.4 million followers and over 2 billion likes at the time of writing, his comedy sketches poke fun at overly complicated life hack videos have made him one of the biggest stars on the platform.
Lame’s meteoric rise to fame highlights TikTok’s global reach and appeal. As the app continues to grow, more creators are gaining massive followings by making entertaining and engaging videos. While trends come and go, relatable personalities like Khaby Lame tend to have staying power. His distinct style and universal humor make it easy to see why he has become TikTok’s most popular account.
In the fast-moving world of social media, the top accounts by likes will continue to shift. But for now, Khaby Lame reigns supreme on TikTok as its most liked creator. His comedic sketches have tapped into the human experience and brought joy to millions of people around the world.
