Year on TikTok: 2021’s top videos, music, stars, effects, trends and more
Image Credit: TikTok
Now with over a billion monthly active users, TikTok take a look back on the journey and everything that made this year so special.
The short-form video platform is a unique place where culture stars and creativity knows no bounds, where anyone can discover, create, learn and share the content that they love. TikTok celebrate their global community that created, expressed creativity, entertained, connected and sparked joy with their creativity in 2021.
There’s something really special about TikTok’s diverse global community that people just can’t find anywhere else. For us, 2021 was a year for connection and we’ve seen people on TikTok laughing together, entertaining us, starting cultural phenomenons, and teaching us new things. It’s been incredible to see the depths of entertainment and creativity from this community, and we’re delighted to celebrate all the ways we’ve come together this year on TikTok.
Vanessa Pappas, Chief Operating Officer, TikTok
From recipes to new music trends and genres, here are TikTok’s moments and movements around the world that made 2021. To see the top moments in the United States, click here.
- FYFaves
- Powered by Joy
- The Playlist
- Breakthrough Stars
- Only on TikTok
- Voices of Change
- Eats on Repeat
- The Wishlist
- The Throwbacks
- Big Little Communities
FYFaves
With their For You page that spawned so many replicas, TikTok videos transcend cultures and borders. This year, global trending content spanned across beloved categories such as comedy, food and drink, and family videos, like the impressive dance moves shown off below that launched trends. Here are the top videos that make up some of the this year’s biggest moments.
- @totouchanemu – Dancing with a drone made us stay for this one
- @nathanevanss – There once was a man… The Sea Shanty heard around the world
- @youneszarou – A tasty take on photography
- @cunhalucass – A casual trip to the aquarium
- @a.z.yx – BRB, changing my PFP
Powered by Joy
These are the videos solely designed to make you smile or laugh from TikTok’s community that sparks joy. This year’s list includes popular categories such as animals that delighted users worldwide. Take in the good vibes from the videos that brought us all happiness this year.
- @k_passionate – Wonder what a sea otter and you smiling sounds like? Watch this
- @jongraz – Was it a bones or no bones day? Only a pug can tell
- @edsheeran – Rehearse for your EUROs show or make a TikTok?
- @randyfeltface – Only on TikTok will you find a puppet feeding a giraffe carrots
- @noorstars – Visiting a family with too many house rules
The Playlist
Be it homemade beats or classics making a comeback, The Playlist is full of the songs spanning pop, classical, rap, electronic and many other genres, that filled your For You feed in 2021. These songs sparked creative inspiration, comedic trends and dances for people at all levels. Whether it’s A-list stars or emerging artists, for the past few years, TikTok has been the place that music starts, before being adopted by the wider entertainment community. Here were the community’s favourite songs of 2021.
- “Astronaut In The Ocean” – Masked Wolf
- “Beggin'” – Måneskin
- “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” – Popp Hunna
- “SugarCrash!” – ElyOtto
- “STAY” – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
Breakthrough Stars
Creators are the beating heart of TikTok and make the community what it is today. TikTok are “humbled and excited to see so many creators entertaining fans and connecting with communities, and are proud to see them launch careers on and off the platform.” Technology, education and fashion communities saw the most global creators breaking new ground in 2021. Here are the creators who grew massive fandoms with their captivating content.
Only on TikTok
TikTok offers unlimited options for creativity by helping the community produce and share entertaining content with the world. This year’s most popular creative tools and effects helped trends blossom and streamline the creation process.
Voices of Change
This year, TikTok’s community continued to uplift each other and support the causes they care about, by raising awareness and supporting causes throughout the year such as LGBTQ+ advocacy, mental health and racial equality. These are the top impactful creators that continue to fight for positive change.
Eats on Repeat
Foodies continued to find a home on TikTok this year, with simple and delicious recipes whetting appetites and helping others discover a passion for cooking. Whether its the world’s favourite at-home feta pasta or pantry decluttering tips, here are all the recipes and food hacks to have you craving for more.
The Wishlist
With more than six billion views globally of #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, shopping is blowing up on the app. Many turn to TikTok for discovery, expression and genuine reviews, while manufacturers find their products flying off the shelves. Home, beauty and gadgets were the categories that sparked shopping trends and “community commerce” conversations this year. TikTok even launched a Gift Guide site dedicated to some of the products on wishlists this year.
The Throwbacks
In 2021, TikTok users rediscovered their favourite pastime and gave first-time reactions to the trends from decades past. Creators on TikTok recirculated fashion, collected anlogue music and cheered as childhood stars reunited to share songs they loved years ago. Scroll to take a trip down memory lane, filled with trends that made TikTok revel in nostalgia and find inspiration to create something new to share.
Big Little Communities
Whether you’re interested in #careertok or #witchtok, anyone anywhere can find and connect with a community that shares their passion. The most popular global communities focused on pets, sports and education. Here are the communities on the rise this year.