In the last two years, TikTok has become a content machine. From its never-ending For You Page to its ability to spotlight new artists by making songs go viral, the platform's cultural influence is undeniable.

While early critics dismissed the app because its user base is predominantly Gen Z, it grew into a massive platform with 2 billion downloads worldwide.

Here are five major trends that shaped TikTok this year.

1. The rise (and fall) of the Hype House

A screenshot of the Hype House on TikTok.Credit: tiktok

Content houses aren't new — plenty have formed and dissolved YouTube friendships — but the Hype House was one of the first major collectives made of popular TikTok stars. The formation of the Hype House fueled rumors about new couples, breakups, and in-house feuds. Much like the drama of many YouTube content collectives, the drama of the Hype House garnered millions of views for its members. A legal battle between co-founders Daisy Keech, Thomas Petrou, andDaisy Keech fueled even more gossip about the group's dynamic. The massive amount of content made aboutthe content house's drama cemented TikTok's place among YouTube influencers.

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2. That one quarantine coffee

Remember the beginning of quarantine? When we all thought social distancing would only be necessary for a few weeks and everyone got really into baking bread? TikTok brought whipped coffee to internet fame. Also known as dalgona coffee, cloud coffee, or simply "TikTok coffee," the sweet, fluffy drink became wildly popular and widely shared on social media. As of Friday, the tag #dalgonacoffee has over 389 million views.

Related Video: How whipped coffee works, according to a scientist

3. Alt TikTok

While the mainstream end of TikTok feuded, the app's hyper-specific algorithm bred "Alt TikTok." Alternative, LGBTQ users rejected the popularity of major influencers like Keech and Hudson, and instead used the platform to share surreal videos inspired by Millennial Dadaist humor. From creating fake department store accounts to imagining Elon Musk' and Grimes' child's first words, the rise of Alt TikTok took everything weird and made it viral.

4. Protest TikTok

As the Black Lives Matter movement inspired protests around the world, American TikTok users began using a remix of Childish Gambino's "This Is America" to highlight police brutality against peaceful protestors. Following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a white police officer, protestors took to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They were met with violent use of force from police officers and the national guard. TikTok users used a version of "This Is America," which touches on themes of systemic oppression, racism, and police brutality, to show the excessive force police used against protestors. The sound quickly went viral, and became an anthem for protestors. TikTok became the go-to platform to stay informed about the protests.

5. TikTok users trolling Trump

TULSA, OK - JUNE 20: Supporters listen as Lara Trump speaks before President Donald J. Trump arrives for a "Make America Great Again!" rally at the BOK Center on Saturday, June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, OK. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)Credit: The Washington Post via Getty

The Trump campaign's ill-timed rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma — where the prosperous "Black Wall Street" was destroyed by white rioters in days of race-fueled violence — was widely criticized for taking place during the height of nationwide protests for racial equity. In protest, TikTok users called upon each other via viral video to reserve tickets for the rally so the campaign would expect an overflow of supporters. While the Trump campaign bragged that well over a million supporters had reserved tickets for the rally, a paltry 6,200 showed up to the venue that could hold 19,000. The president had to face a devastatingly empty stadium. To top it off, the campaign also has to contend with contributing to the spike in COVID-19 cases around Tulsa.

Lesson learned: TikTok may be lighthearted, but you'd probably want to avoid pissing off its user base in the future.

TopicsTikTokViral Videos