Answers · Trends, sounds & hashtags
Can you start your own trend on TikTok?
Short answer: Yes, you can start your own trend on TikTok, though most don't catch and it's rarely something you can force. Trends usually start when one repeatable, easy-to-copy format — a sound, a phrase, a visual gag — is simple enough that others can remix it. Make it obvious how to participate, then hope it spreads.
What actually makes a trend spread
Trends catch when they're easy to copy. The ones that take off share a trait: a low barrier to participate. A short sound with an obvious action, a repeatable phrase, a simple visual gag, a fill-in-the-blank format. If someone can watch your video and instantly understand how to make their own version, you've got the raw material for a trend. If it takes special skills, gear, or a big following to replicate, it usually won't spread.
How to give one a real shot
- Design for remixing. Make the format obvious and the participation step dead simple.
- Use original audio so others can adopt your exact sound — that's how a sound-based trend propagates.
- Show the format clearly enough that the 'you try it' is implied without you having to explain it.
- Post it more than once and in variations; most trends need a few sparks before one catches.
Be realistic: most attempts don't catch, and virality isn't something you can force or guarantee. Bigger accounts have an easier time seeding trends because more people see the spark, but plenty of trends have started from small creators with a genuinely copyable idea. Treat it as a low-odds, high-upside experiment, not a plan.
You can't make a trend happen — you can only make something easy and fun enough to copy, then give it repeated shots. Build for remixing and let the crowd decide.
Know your score before you post
ReelTok's AI analyzes your video on your iPhone — a 0–100 virality score, predicted reach, hooks, and fixes before you share. Free 3-day trial.
Related questions
- How do you jump on a TikTok trend early?
- How do you come up with TikTok video ideas?
- How do you use trending sounds that fit your niche?
- Should you copy viral videos on TikTok?
- How do you study viral videos without copying them?
More: browse all creator answers, read the growth guides, look up a term in the glossary, or check your next post with the virality score checker.