Devin Dornbrock Trends on TikTok change at the drop of a hat; on the bright side, that does mean there’s always something new and entertaining to watch. Last year was a wild ride, and the 2020 trends did a lot to reflect that. From new quarantine activities to dance challenges, it was a comfort to see everyone else struggling as much as I was yet still managing to get creative.
Below are some of the most memorable TikTok trends from last year. They were all really versatile, and pretty much anyone could do them without being talented or having much money. For some of them, you didn’t even need to do a video; they were just fun ideas you could privately do on your own or with friends.
The Shoe Flip
Transitions, transitions, transitions. TikTok is famous for its transitions, and one of the most memorable is the shoe flip challenge. In the video, all you do is flip a shoe into the air, try to line your foot up as closely as possible, and boom. With the magic of editing, you transformed into a whole new wardrobe or costume with the shoe you flipped magically on your foot.
The videos are simple, but I can’t imagine the amount of time and effort that went into actually making them. People used the videos to show off amazing outfits that made them look insanely attractive. Cosplayers would show up in full character costumes, or some people would do something silly like suddenly appearing in one of those inflatable floppy t-rex costumes.
The Target Challenge
This challenge is one of many for couples that popped up last year. The idea is to head to Target and buy stuff from a list for your significant other. What you buy is up to you. After you’ve bought everything, you head home and trade-off with your partner. The little gifts are a cute and fun way to make them smile and show off how well you know the person you love.
The official list of things to get is intentionally vague, so you have a lot of flexibility in your choices. Usually, people get their partner’s favorite snack, something in their favorite color, something that you want to try with them, their favorite drink, something that reminds you of them, and maybe something for a date night.
Even if you don’t make a TikTok video of it, this is a fun challenge anyone can do with their friends or partner. You can set whatever budget limit you want and don’t have to limit yourself to Target. You can pick any store you want and whatever types of items too. (If you’re looking for other fun date ideas be sure to read our blog about that!)
Making Bread
Everyone and their mom must have picked up a new hobby during 2020. One of the most popular hobbies? Making bread. There were tons of videos where people tried new recipes or shared tips on how to get old ones just right. The ingredients are low cost, and almost everyone has an oven, so it was an easy hobby to pick up.
Even if you didn’t decide to roll up your sleeves and get up to your elbows in flour, it was still cool to see the creative ways people were coloring or shaping their bread. Loaves, buns, gluten-free alternatives, the mouthwatering videos were a good way to pass the time but probably only made the quarantine weight gain worse. Damn you, carbs.
This or That
Also called “It’s tricky,” loads of people have made their own versions of the trend. The format is pretty simple. All you have to do is play a certain snippet of the song “It’s Tricky” by Run DMC and dance off one side of the screen or the other. Captions tell viewers what the options are, and the side of the screen you danced off reveals your choice.
The videos have all been super fun and lighthearted, from drink preferences to what kind of qualities they look for in partners. This was one of the 2020 trends you don’t actually have to make a video to participate in the fun. It could just be a fun party game if you have a group of people with nothing to do. (After social distancing is lifted, of course).
Ghost Photoshoots
I personally missed this one, but apparently, all you do in this is grab a camera and take some photos while dressed up as a ghost. Friends are encouraged but not required, and you get to show off the best pictures while “Oh Klahoma” by Jack Stauber plays. The whole thing is a silly way to explore outside to find the best places for the perfect photo… of a ghost.
Photoshoots, in general, were kind of a big thing on TikTok, but when I found out about the ghost one, I knew I just needed to put it on the list. It was the perfect, quirky thing that could look great even if you didn’t put much effort into it.
And That Was 2020
If you couldn’t tell, I really like the 2020 trends that you don’t actually need to post on TikTok. The best trends to me are the ones you can do on your own and just enjoy. If you want to post a video, that’s cool too! With how toxic the internet can get, it’s soothing to have wholesome activities you can enjoy and share with others.
I only went over a handful of the trends from last year, but there were so many, a lot that I never even came across. If you want to learn more about them, you can check out the TikTok’s year in review.
What was your favorite 2020 TikTok trend? Let us know in the comments!
