TikTok trends are ideas that you see repeated in multiple videos, such as the same sound, a joke or a familiar way of filming. Use such an idea as a starting point for your own video. First, look at a few recent examples about your topic. See what they have in common and what you could do differently. Taking part in a trend does not guarantee greater reach.
Below, you can read how to find trends, choose one that fits and test your own version.
What types of TikTok trends are there?
A trend does not have to be a dance. It can also involve a sound, a set sequence of images or a question that many people answer.
| Type of trend | What do you recognise? | Fictional example for your own video |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | The same music or spoken phrase | You show how you make a drawing to the rhythm. |
| Set structure | The same sequence or reveal | First, you show a full cupboard and then how you tidied it. |
| Question or challenge | Many people try or answer the same thing | You make lunch using only what you still have at home. |
| Topic | Different videos about the same question | You share your favourite place for a walk in Ghent. |
Trends change because people come up with new versions. For example, the sound stays the same, but the joke changes. So do not only pay attention to what people repeat. Also look at how they make it their own.
Finding TikTok trends through search and your For You page
Start with the search function and your For You page. What you see there does not show which trends everyone in the Netherlands or Belgium sees. In TikTok’s older explanation of recommendations the platform mentions your reactions and information about videos, such as sounds and hashtags, among other signals. That explanation does not describe all current recommendation rules.
Here is how to search for an idea for your own video:
- Search for your topic. Think of vegetarian cooking, running or drawing. You can optionally add a place or language.
- View different creators. Do you come across the same sound, the same question or the same way of filming?
- Pay attention to the date. An old video with many views does not show whether people still use the trend now.
- Compare recent versions. See which new ideas you come across and what you could still add.
- Write down one idea you can make. Note what you are going to film, what the viewer sees first and how your video ends.
Would you rather share an example than make your own version? Then read how reposting on TikTok works. That is different from making and posting a video yourself.
You can also find inspiration in the TikTok Next report for 2026. It contains trend forecasts from TikTok itself. A forecast is not proof that a particular sound is popular today.
Choose a TikTok trend that fits your topic
Choose a trend that fits what you normally share. Is your account mainly about baking? Then a funny reveal of a failed cake fits better than a random joke unrelated to food.
Ask yourself three questions before filming:
- Is my topic immediately clear? Show your dish, sport or drawing early in the video.
- Am I adding something of my own? This could be your own result, explanation, opinion or a recognisable situation.
- Would someone understand the video without knowing the trend? Otherwise, add a brief explanation or choose a simpler idea.
For example, you could first show a situation and then show what changes. These fictional examples show how to use that structure:
- On your personal account, you show your planned picnic and then lunch indoors because of the rain.
- An online shop shows a small package and then how everything fits inside it carefully.
- A café shows an empty table and then preparing it for lunch.
- A bike mechanic shows a dirty bicycle and then one clear cleaning result.
Use Dutch if that suits your viewers. A place name or a situation from your area can make your example recognisable. Does an English joke not work in Dutch? You do not have to translate it literally.
Using trending sounds and hashtags on TikTok
A familiar sound can make your video recognisable. A suitable hashtag tells people what your video is about. But popular music or a string of hashtags does not automatically make an unclear video interesting.
So choose your idea first and the sound afterwards. Does the viewer need to hear your explanation? Set the music low enough for your voice to remain clearly audible. With a joke, make sure your visuals are also clear to someone who does not know the sound.
Use hashtags to describe what you show. Are you repairing a bicycle tyre in your video? Then, for example, #bicycletyrerepair and #bicyclemaintenance fit. Add a place name only if your video is genuinely about that place. Leave out popular topics that have nothing to do with your video.
Check whether you may use music for your purpose, especially in advertising or on a business account. Hearing a song used by another creator does not mean that you may also use it for that purpose.
Testing a TikTok trend with one video
Start with one trend video that fits your usual topic. This lets you try something without changing your entire account straight away. You cannot rule out that the video will reach fewer people than your other videos.
- Choose what you want to find out. For example: do people respond to my question about their favourite lunch?
- Make one clear version. Keep it to one question, joke or result.
- Keep other choices as consistent as possible. For example, stick to your usual topic and roughly the same video length.
- Decide in advance when you will compare. For example, after three days. That is a practical choice, not a TikTok rule.
- Compare it with a few regular videos. View the results after roughly the same amount of time since posting. Do not compare only with your most watched video ever.
- Change one thing in your next attempt. For example, make the opening clearer. Do not also change the sound, length and topic at the same time.
Use the statistics available for your account. The number of views shows how often a video has been watched. It is not a count of unique viewers or new fans.
Can you see watch time, meaning how long people watch? Then view it together with the comments. Also read what people write. Are they asking about your recipe or only commenting on the music? This helps you understand whether the trend attracts attention to your topic.
TikTok trends: more views do not mean more followers
A trend can give people a reason to watch your video. Following you is a separate choice. So make it clear on your profile what kind of videos you make more often.
Suppose you make a funny video about your first running session. In this fictional example, you could then show your next session or explain what you are doing differently. This gives interested viewers a follow up. You do not have to use every new trend for that.
So when testing, look beyond the number of views. Do people understand what your video is about? And do you want to make a follow up to it? Start with one idea that suits you and that you can film with your own equipment. If you are also considering paid options, our TikTok services lets you compare packages for views and followers, including the available quantities and prices.
