The Virality of TikTok

The social media app Tiktok has taken this generation by storm. You can find people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds on this one app. It’s a place where everyone can express themselves and post whatever they want. Once that “post” button has been pressed, everyone hopes that their video blows up. For some, it really is that easy; but for others, it’s not that easy. The virality of TikTok is something that cannot be explained very easily, but I’m going to attempt to do just that.

In order for a TikTok to go viral, it must get on the “For You” page (FYP). People who are familiar with Tiktok will know exactly what the “For You” page (FYP) is. It’s the page that you hope your video gets on in order for it to get more views. By getting your video on the “For You” page, it allows other users who do not follow you to see, like, comment and even share your video. All four of those actions will likely boost your chances of your TikTok doing better. Again, though, for all of this to happen the video has to make it on the “For You” page first. That is where the TikTok algorithm comes in. 

Everyone has a different FYP, which will result in different videos being shown to each user. While some people may have the same videos on their own FYP, they will not have the same exact one. The key factors that drive the TikTok algorithm are user interactions, video information, and device and account settings. When using the app, TikTok essentially tracks users’ actions to provide more relevant information and videos on your FYP. Things like accounts you follow, videos that you’ve liked or shared, or even content that you’ve created on your own account can contribute to your TikTok algorithm. I know for me, I see a lot of Clash Royale TikToks because I have liked each one that I watch. It’s really the majority of my FYP, if I’m being honest, which proves the algorithm is working for me. 

When it comes to your own videos blowing up, though, it’s different in the sense that it’s up to other users on how well your video does. How other users share your video or like it will either help or hurt your chances of blowing up. 

So what are the strategies you can use to help your videos blow up? One strategy begins with finding your target audience and sticking to making what clicks. For some people, it may be singing videos; or for others, it may be making funny skits. Whatever it may be, find your niche and stick with it as best as you can. On TikTok there are many different users with different interests, such as political versus gaming just to name one. However, with these types of TikTok videos, there tends to be an abundance of similar users that interact with both political and gaming-themed videos. That is due to how all of those videos appear on their FYP because it “clicks” for them, and it’s a theme that they tend to enjoy, like, comment on, and share. From this, those videos tend to blow up more regularly for the creator of said TikToks. 

While the TikTok algorithm is confusing and appears to be random at first, there is much more to it than just luck. As with any social media platform, TikTok has an algorithm and sticks to it by using its users' preferences seen in their likes, shares, and very own videos themselves.