Top Viral TikTok Challenges in 2023

What is TikTok?

TikTok is the short-form video platform that has taken the social media world by storm. Users can create and share short (up to 3 minute) videos on any topic using or creating sounds, filters and dances. 

TikTok has continually retained and built a strong user base and remained the most downloaded app in the world for the last 5 quarters. Part of its success is due to the platform’s hyper-specific algorithm that provides unique content for each user. The algorithm suggests new content for users based on interests they express when joining the app and adjusts its suggestions when users indicate they aren’t interested in specific topics. It monitors user interactions (the videos users like and share, the accounts they follow, comments and content users themselves create), video information (captions, sounds and hashtags) and device and account settings (language preference, country setting and device type). 

To further provide guaranteed entertainment, TikTok also monitors how long users spend watching videos on the platform. If a user scrolls quickly and doesn’t complete the video, the platform will take note and adjust its algorithm accordingly, and vice versa. 

TikTok’s main appeal for users joining and creating their own content is the temptation of going viral. Although the algorithm favours creators with a larger following, it is still a high possibility that smaller creators will have content featured on the For You Page. By using trending hashtags, sounds, challenges and filters users increase their chances of having a viral video and reaching new audiences.

Discovering trends on TikTok

TikTok is an incredibly fast-paced platform and new trends are in and out of popularity daily. From TikTok challenges, memes and dances, TikTok’s easy interface allows users to recreate trends quickly. 

Driven by the algorithm, TikTok trends are addictively entertaining and easy to share. We’ve seen countless viral TikTok filters, sounds, dances and challenges on the platform itself and shared to other social media platforms. 

It is incredibly easy to discover new trends on the platform. Other than the algorithm feeding users trending content, trends can be found through the “Discover” page. The Discover page shows users trending hashtags, sounds, effects and challenges to consume or create. 

Getting involved with trending TikTok challenges is a great way to build a following and reach new audiences. It’s easier to ride along an existing trend than to create your own. It also helps TikTok influencers continually post content if they’re running low on TikTok video ideas. 

We’ve rounded up some top TikTok challenges and trends to inspire you to create your own content.

Trending Effects

TikTok effects add details into your video. From adding makeup to morphing faces to cloning, there is a TikTok effect for every use. Due to the sheer number of effects available, many have seen themselves central to trending content.

VHS Filter

The VHS filter began trending on TikTok as young creators shared their similarities with their parents using the retro-inspired filter. Users team up with their parents for an optical illusion that makes it look as though they have travelled back in time.

@salmabentirCredit : @bertualonso I love this. #fyp #foryou #FreshWearSpin #RayBanElevatorDance #viral #mum #daughter #vintage♬ Marlboro Nights – Lonely God

@toomuchaustinSame tan lines, Love you dad #SpotlightAPI #fyp #foryoupage #oldyoung♬ Marlboro Nights – Lonely God

The effect trended using the sound Marlboro Nights by Lonely God and has nearly 600K videos created using it.

Inverted filter

TikTok’s inverted filter has been the centre of two major TikTok trends this year. The effect flips the user’s camera to show how you actually look as opposed to the reflected version users are used to seeing in the mirror.

@bambilauraMy nose is definitely broken #invertedfilter #foryoupage♬ talking to the moon sickmix – Sickickmusic

The inverted filter began trending when users were using it to flip back and forth between inverted and normal to see how symmetrical their faces really were.

@miantwinsHad to hop on this trend @azramian @itsaishamian♬ deja vu – Olivia Rodrigo

@in_the_nic_of_timeI guess I see it a little ? #dad #trend #inverted #dejavu #TheChallengeAllStars #notviral♬ deja vu – Olivia Rodrigo

Users took this trend one step further when Olivia Rogrigo’s song “Deja Vu” began trending on the platform. Combining these two trends together, the Deja Vu Challenge was born. This challenge also featured users switching back and forth between normal and inverted, but was often used with two people in frame so their images flipped back and forth making them look identical. 

The inverted filter has over 1.6 million videos created using it.

Versailles Run Filter

The Versailles Run TikTok is an augmented reality filter that places a user’s face on a woman running through the corridors of Versailles. TikTok users made full use of the bizarre filter and has been used over 269K times.

@ashleehilton7#dogsoftoktok #fyp♬ оригинальный звук – Makeup Queen ?

@courtneyhadwin#siblings #facts #courtneyhadwin #funny #versaillerun♬ original sound – gil

The filter has been used alongside different TikTok sounds including Love Game by Lady Gaga, Unlock It by Charlie XCX and an original sound. It has housed countless meme-style videos that have received well over 1 million views and likes. 

Magnified Eyes

This trend actually involves a sticker rather than a full-on effect. Trending alongside the song “Ew” by Baby Kaely, the trend involves users magnifying pets eyes with the lyrics “Hello my name is Suzie”.

@oogieboogie_and_kabira#magnify #hellomynameissuzietrend #dog #eyes #PrimeDayDealsDance♬ YALL ARENT ORIGINAL AND ITS SAD STOP COPYING ME – yuh

@eevee.borkZuzy #hellomynameissuzietrend #dogsoftiktok #shibainu♬ YALL ARENT ORIGINAL AND ITS SAD STOP COPYING ME – yuh

The sound has nearly 5 million sounds created using it and countless pets with magnified eyes. Users can create their own by filming a video and tapping “stickers” in the bottom bar. They will be presented with the magnifying circle option and by clicking this twice they can place the circles over the pets eyes to magnify them.

Trending Sounds

Sound is one of TikTok’s most important features. It stops users from continually scrolling through videos and engages them for longer than videos without sound. Considering this, it’s unsurprising that many TikTok creators use sound to grow an audience and upcoming musicians use the platform to share new music in an attempt to become the next popular TikTok song.

Touch It by Busta Rhymes

A remix of Touch It by Busta Rhymes trended on TikTok alongside an accompanying fashion challenge. Though the song originally trended with a TikTok dance challenge, the remix was taken over by FashionTok.

@juanpguedestira blazer coloca blazer #fy #outfit #goviral #terno♬ Touch It (TikTok Remix) – Dj Viral TikToker

Users used the sound to showcase different outfits that changed on the beat of the sound. The remix has well over 210K videos using it.

@evelilythriftsReply to @nesiasviewsartist I wholeheartedly disagree. IB @wisdm8♬ Touch It (remix) – Wisdom Kaye

The original Touch It challenge saw creators replicating the popular TikTok comment “??????” which involved users arching their backs and poking their behinds out while spinning in a circle.

@totouchanemuRIP the audio from the original video, so here is a fresh version for ya! #touchit♬ Touch It (Gun Boosted) – Midi Blosso

Day ‘N’ Nite by Kid Cudi

Day ‘N’ Nite by Kid Cudi is featured in a popular TikTok sound, renamed “Now Look at This”. The popular sound created a new challenge for users who began sharing some of the weirdest, surprising and coolest videos on the internet after the line.

@kingrollussHow tho?! #fyp #trend #foryoupage #vine♬ Day ‘n’ Nite – Kid Cudi

@allthingsm4ttWhy is this so satisfying ? C: @ryanbean♬ Day ‘n’ Nite – Kid Cudi

The sound has over 853K videos using it and the hashtag #NOWLOOKATTHIS has over 6.5 billion views.

Waking Up in the Morning by Gina Giudice

This incredibly popular TikTok sound was originally written by Gina Giudice from The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Uploaded to TikTok by Amir Yass, the sound quickly took off from users sharing their own awkward and embarrassing stories.

@ikearatsWHO ALLOWED THIS????? ##fyp ##ew♬ original sound – Amir Yass

@jakeprizant##highschool ##theater ##romeoandjuliet ##fail ##teen♬ original sound – Amir Yass

The sound has amassed over 300K videos and the hashtag #ijustwishthingswouldgetbetter has over 108 million views.

Trending Dances

2020 was the year of popular TikTok dances as many users began creating their own during lockdown restrictions. Notable mentions include Cardi B’s WAP, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida Doja Cat’s Say So.

Blinding Lights Dance

Although created in 2020, the Blinding Lights Dance (to The Weeknd’s song of the same name) was still popular in 2021. The dance itself is super simple, meaning it can be recreated by anyone. The #blindinglights hashtag has over 3.8 billion views.

@macdaddyzWe got bored??‍♂️??‍♂️♬ Blinding Lights – MACDADDYZ

@boystheofficial#fyp #foryou #boys #theboys #ftb #LoveMeMode #RefundGlowUp♬ Blinding Lights – MACDADDYZ

@macdaddyzWe got bored??‍♂️??‍♂️♬ Blinding Lights – MACDADDYZ

@boystheofficial#fyp #foryou #boys #theboys #ftb #LoveMeMode #RefundGlowUp♬ Blinding Lights – MACDADDYZ

The Blinding Lights TikTok dance typically features multiple users recreating it, in a modern-day flashdance style.

Doja Cat ft SZA – Kiss me More

Doja Cat has had a few trending dances before, and 2021 is no exception. Her new track featuring SZA has been trending alongside a dance created by @zoifishh and @cassidycondiee. The original dance video has been viewed over 22.7 million times and has over 2.5 million likes.

@zoifishhTRY OUR FUN DANCE HEHE??‍♀️ (dc: me and @cassidycondiee )♬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) – Doja Cat

@whosdatblondegirl#foryoupage #pink #dancegirls #nuns♬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) – Doja Cat

The easy dance has been replicated by other users and is set to be a popular summer TikTok dance trend.

Trending Challenges

TikTok is home to countless viral challenges. As a result of users finding new ways to entertain themselves on the app and the ease of recreating videos, new challenges make their way onto the app frequently.

The Buss It Challenge

Arguably one of the most popular TikTok challenges on the platform, the Buss It challenge involved users recording two videos: one in normal and comfy clothes and another when all glammed up.

@wiffygriffyBuss it but with a horse chillin in the background ? #bussitchallenge #bussit♬ Buss It – Erica Banks

@ryleyMeh thought I’d hop on the trend♬ Buss It – Erica Banks

The video starts with users dancing to Nelly’s “Hot in Here” before transitioning into Erica Banks’ “Buss It”.

Pass the Phone Challenge

The “Pass the Phone” challenge on TikTok has been very popular with groups of friends and family members. It involves users calling out someone else’s bad habits, but all in good fun.

@julissangelinawith all the siblings ???#passthephonechallenge♬ original sound – jules

@beckysanders13Watch ‘til the end ???? #PassingThePhone #fyp #foryou #twistedsisters #FreeFreeDance♬ original sound – Twisted Sisters

Users record themselves saying “I’m passing the phone to…” and then fill in the rest of the sentence with a description of a person. For example, “I’m passing the phone to someone who is always late.”

Trackstar Challenge

Mooski’s “Track Star” originally became popular on TikTok with a dance challenge back in January, however it has most recently been trending for a runaway challenge.

@aydonholleyHide and seek part 2? @playboicaso♬ Track Star – Mooski

@herodwthis trend but gym edition part 2 ‼️ @aydonholley @korylittle_ ##fyp ##funny♬ Track Star – Mooski

Users set up their camera on a timer between 5 and 10 seconds. Then everyone tries to run or hide out of frame before the clock hits 0 and snaps a picture; those caught in the picture fail.

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