Think about the last time you heard a new song, bought something because someone online recommended it, tried a new makeup product or suddenly became obsessed with a random celebrity. There is a pretty good chance TikTok had something to do with it. TikTok and pop culture have become almost impossible to separate, especially for Gen Z and college students.
TikTok has become way more than an app where people post dance videos. It has become one of the biggest places where pop culture is created, shared and changed. A song can be completely forgotten for years and suddenly become the number one song on the charts because someone used it in a 15-second video. A pair of shoes can sit on a store shelf for months and then sell out because TikTok decided they were “the shoe.” Even movies, TV shows and celebrities can become popular again because of one viral clip.
For Gen Z and college students especially, TikTok has become one of the easiest ways to keep up with what everyone is talking about. Instead of waiting to see what is trending on the news or hearing about something from a friend, we can open TikTok and find out within seconds.
So how did one app become so powerful in pop culture?
TikTok Made Songs Famous Again
One of the biggest ways TikTok has changed pop culture is through music. Before TikTok, artists usually depended on radio, music videos, streaming playlists and other traditional ways to get their songs noticed. Now, one viral TikTok can completely change an artist’s career.
The interesting part is that the song does not even have to be new.
TikTok has a way of bringing old songs back from the dead. A song that was released years ago can suddenly become popular because people start using a certain part of it in videos. Then, people who have never heard the song before start streaming it. Before you know it, everyone knows the lyrics to a song that their parents probably heard first.
This has happened so many times that it almost feels normal now. TikTok users can turn a random song into a trend overnight. Sometimes the trend is a dance, but it can also be a funny sound, a transition, a storytime or even a completely random clip.
TikTok has also changed the way people discover new artists. Instead of hearing about a new artist from the radio, many people hear a song on TikTok first and then go to Spotify or Apple Music to listen to the entire thing.
Basically, TikTok can turn a 20-second clip into a full-blown music career.
Fashion Trends Can Start With One Video
TikTok has also completely changed the fashion world.
Remember when certain styles suddenly seemed to be everywhere? Low-rise jeans, cowboy boots, UGGs, baggy jeans, oversized sweatshirts, specific colors, chunky sneakers and countless other trends have all had their moments on TikTok.
One of the funniest things about TikTok fashion is how quickly trends can change. One week, everyone is obsessed with something. The next week, people are making videos about how they cannot believe they ever wore it.
TikTok has made fashion feel much more accessible because people can see real people styling clothes instead of only seeing outfits on celebrities or models. Creators will post “get ready with me” videos, outfit ideas, clothing hauls and links to where they bought everything. This makes it really easy for someone watching to think, “Wait, I need that.”
And then suddenly you are on the website at 11 p.m. adding something to your cart that you had absolutely no intention of buying that day.
TikTok has also made certain aesthetics popular. Trends like “clean girl,” “coastal grandmother,” “cowgirl” and countless others have gone beyond clothing and started influencing people’s entire lifestyles. It is not just about what you wear anymore. TikTok can influence how your room looks, what you drink, what music you listen to and even what you want your weekend plans to look like.
Beauty Trends Are Everywhere
Beauty is another huge part of TikTok culture.
If you have ever gone into Sephora looking for one specific product and walked out with three things you saw on TikTok, you are definitely not alone.
Beauty creators have become some of the biggest influencers on the platform. They show makeup routines, skincare products, hair tutorials, product reviews and “get ready with me” videos. A product can go viral simply because someone says, “You guys, you NEED this.”
The power of these videos comes from how personal they feel. Instead of watching a traditional advertisement, people feel like they are getting a recommendation from a friend.
This has completely changed the way brands market their products. Companies now want to work with TikTok creators because they know a creator’s recommendation can reach millions of people. Sometimes a creator does not even have to be a huge celebrity. A smaller creator can make a product go viral simply because people trust their opinion.
TikTok has basically turned everyday people into product reviewers, trendsetters and mini celebrities.
Shopping Is Now an Experience
TikTok has also changed the way we shop.
Before TikTok, you might see something in a store and decide whether you liked it. Now, you can see someone reviewing it, trying it on, ranking it, comparing it to another product and telling you exactly where to buy it before you even leave your bed.
TikTok has created a whole culture around “TikTok made me buy it.”
Products that go viral can sell out extremely quickly. Everything from water bottles and beauty products to clothes, snacks and home decorations can suddenly become something everyone wants.
The interesting thing is that TikTok does not always make products popular because they are actually new or revolutionary. Sometimes people just want to see what everyone else is talking about.
This is where TikTok becomes really powerful. It does not just show us what people like. It can influence what we decide to like.
TikTok Can Bring Celebrities Back
TikTok has also changed celebrity culture.
A celebrity does not necessarily need a new movie, album or TV show to become popular again. One old interview, funny moment or random video can suddenly go viral and introduce that person to an entirely new audience.
This has happened with actors, singers, reality stars and even celebrities who have not been in the spotlight for years. TikTok users will find an old clip, put it with a trending sound and suddenly everyone is talking about that person again.
TikTok also gives celebrities a way to seem more relatable. Instead of only seeing celebrities in highly edited photos or interviews, we can see them doing trends, making jokes and participating in challenges.
Of course, some of this is still carefully planned. But TikTok makes celebrity culture feel much more personal.
It can make it feel like we know someone just because we have watched 30 of their videos.
TikTok Decides What We Talk About
Maybe the biggest impact TikTok has had on pop culture is its ability to decide what gets attention.
There is always something new happening on TikTok. A new trend, sound, celebrity moment, meme or controversy can become the main thing everyone is talking about within hours.
This creates a kind of shared experience. You can walk into class and mention a TikTok trend, and there is a good chance someone knows exactly what you are talking about.
But there is also something interesting about this.
TikTok does not show everyone the exact same content. The app learns what you watch, like and interact with, which means your For You Page can look completely different from your friend’s. You might think everyone is obsessed with one trend because you see it constantly, while your friend has never even heard of it.
That makes it hard to know what is actually popular and what is just popular on your specific For You Page.
Still, when enough people see and interact with something, TikTok can push it into the mainstream.
So, Does TikTok Control Pop Culture?
The answer is probably… kind of.
TikTok definitely has a huge influence on what becomes popular, but it is not the only thing controlling pop culture. Music, celebrities, movies, television, brands and other social media platforms still play a major role.
What makes TikTok different is how quickly it can take something small and make it huge.
A random sound can become a hit song. An old fashion trend can become popular again. A product can sell out overnight. A celebrity can become famous again. A TV show from years ago can suddenly become everyone’s new obsession.
TikTok has basically shortened the distance between something being unknown and something becoming mainstream.
And honestly, that is what makes it so entertaining.
What’s Next?
The biggest question is what TikTok will make popular next.
Pop culture has always changed, but TikTok has made that change happen faster than ever. Trends can appear, explode and disappear within days. What is considered “in” can change before we even have time to keep up.
For Gen Z and college students, TikTok has become a major part of how we discover music, fashion, beauty, entertainment and even products we never knew we needed.
So the next time you find yourself saying, “Why is everyone obsessed with this?” there is a pretty good chance TikTok has something to do with it.
And if you are currently thinking about deleting TikTok because you spend too much time scrolling… maybe do not open the app after reading this.
Because we all know you are probably going to check your For You Page anyway.
