Link Chains: Week of May 17th, 2021 (Premium)
Weekly TikTok Trend Identification and Analysis for Businesses
Foreword
In this weeks wrap up of TikTok trends, relationships are getting sneaky fun and childhood nostalgia is taking over. As we head into summer 2021 get ready for the best of summer trends and social culture with warm weather and freedom approaching. Take a seat and keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times as we explore through the trends that are taking over TikTok this week.
The Trends
#1 When he says to bring friends
133.7k videos on the sound
Sometimes you have to support the friends and get them a date too. This trend has fun showing off the excitement from getting the text to bring a friend to hang out with another person on a date. Users will put text on screen describing the situation (i.e. when he texts you to bring a friend) then the user will walk across screen followed by a friend who started outside of the frame.
Examples:
Applicability:
Brands can utilize this format for its exciting walk. One might have text on screen reading “when Chick Fil A gets in the new chicken sandwich” or something of that nature while customers would be walking across the screen towards it.
#2 Misdirection
121.4k videos on the sound
Everybody has their peeves but sometimes others enjoy those annoyances. This trend format acts a fun misdirection for users to show off something that others commonly don’t like about people, which they really value. Users will start off pointing towards the door which alludes to them wanting the defined group of people to leave. Yet this is a misdirection because as the sound continues they usually start slowly rotating towards their bed, alluding to a more intimate liking.
Examples:
Applicability:
use cases
Conversely, brands could avoid the misdirection entirely and simply point to the door while text on screen reads about poor quality or other poor practices the company doesn’t tolerate.
#3 CEO of funky fresh
10.1k videos on the sound
In the past we have seen a large topical trend of astrology and astrological signs on TikTok, yet the counter-culture to it remains just as strong. This trend centers around people making fun of tendencies that each astrological sign has, and has since evolved to incorporate more widespread mockery. Users will make time lapse videos alongside the sound to give the effect of mockery while listing funny tendencies that astrological groups, or more broad groups tend to have.
Examples:
Applicability:
Brands here have an opportunity to have fun with making jokes about competitors by using direct competitors as the object of the mocking. This type of brand interaction is extremely well received by the TikTok audience as it shows the reality of market competition while grounding it in a joking common interaction.
#4 Don’t have time for that
1.4 videos on the sound, growing quickly
Have you ever woken up from a dream at the best part? Well that’s exactly what this trend is. This format presents a favorable and likable situation, but right as the music reaches its peak, the music cuts and it shows the reality of time getting cut short or some inhibition getting in the way. Users will present a scenario as such with text on screen and simply film themselves alongside the audio.
Examples:
Applicability:
A brand utilizing this audio would likely want to present a scenario where they are being self deprecating about times surrounding hours and seasonal products. For example, using Chick Fil A again, they would be able to use being closed on Sundays as the joke.
#5 Backyardigans are back in the yard again
140.0k videos on the sound
Over the past week a song from the popular early 2000’s kids show Backyardigans has surfaced on TikTok and it making waves. The song titled “Castaway” has a beat and flow that resembles a large amount of popular music today and these elements added with the nostalgia that the show provides for Generation Z has catalyzed it to the top of the charts. There currently isn’t any specific trend that aligns with the sound, yet the culture on the platform surrounding it is huge. Producers and artists have been remixing the song and creating mashups which have only added to its cultural relevance.
Trends from last week that keep climbing
#6 I’m almost there
384.7k videos on the sound
The breaking point for most people isn’t ever seen, but we’ve all had times when we’re just one step away. Users on TikTok have used this audio singing “I’m almost there” to depict funny scenarios when they would be close to losing it. Showcasing what common inhibitions users share within the trend is another example of the large culture of self deprecating humor on TikTok.
Examples:
Applicability:
Brands will likely want to buy into the self deprecating humor here by joking about frustrating elements of the workplace or sarcastically frustrating parts of the business.
For a more wholesome route, another option would be using “I’m almost there” as a reference for going to any brands in person place of business. Restaurants could essentially show people one step away from their doors.
#7 I hate people that work at the bank
269.6k videos on sound
Appearances are everything and sometimes people will undermine things they are in support of. Generation Z continues the ever popular self deprecation trend on TikTok here by joking about things they say they don’t like, but actually do. The audio reads “I hate people that work at the bank… shhhh… I work at the bank”, and users will put replacement text on screen emulating that format, just replacing “bank.”
Examples:
Applicability:
Brands here can simply replace the “bank” with their own brand
Additionally, a brand could shift the format such that it reads, “I love people that work at ___” and insert competitors there.
BONUS: Brands utilizing trends
As companies continue to buy into TikTok, more and more have started utilizing trends to connect with the platform’s user base. Little Caesar’s Pizza posted a fun video this past week utilizing one of our identified trends from weeks past. Although the video was posted a little too late to be well integrated into the trend culture, the format itself and application is a perfect example of how a brand can integrate their product into a trend aligned TikTok video. Little Caesar’s application here is great, yet moving forward companies have the opportunity to do this even more effectively by catching the trends early and buying in then.
Summary
As we head into summer this year, TikTok continues to be guided by young, Generation Z dominated culture. Trends relating to living life away from the stresses of school and exams and closer to the niceties of summer. These past seven days have been a fun one, but as with all culture right now, the landscape will be wildly different even just next week. Stick along for the ride and we’ll make sure to guide you through the tumultuous world that is culture on TikTok, and how to navigate it even further with your brand.