TikTok, the viral short-form video app, has been one of the driving cultural forces in 2020. From becoming the launching pad of big-name influencers like Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, and Bella Poarch to helping propel hits like Roddy Rich’s “The Box” or Doja Cat’s “Say So” to the top of the Billboard Charts, the app’s influence is undeniable.
Its culture also moves incredibly fast, and there’s been a wide variety of videos, trends, and sounds to keep track of that are sure to give you at least a bit of whiplash if you haven’t been keeping up all year. If you’re not a habitual user of the app itself, you might be the most familiar with some of TikTok’s most viral videos, which have gained millions of views not only on the app itself, but also on other social media platforms like Twitter.
These are our top TikTok videos in 2020.
Zain the dog dancing to the ‘Love Story’ remix
Over the summer, one of the most popular TikTok dances involved a Taylor Swift remix, a moving camera and a lot of hip-thrusting. Usually it was humans who attempted to do the challenge, but when Zain the dog attempted the challenge, he absolutely nailed it — and ended up creating one of the most-liked TikToks.
A wave hitting the camera
Jordy, aka @outdoorkindaguy, posts plenty of underwater videos on his account with 6.2 million followers.
This cute cat pawing a cardboard box
It’s a cute cat getting confused by a cardboard box — what’s not to love?
A goose throws it back with @hartyt_
In this video from @hartyt_, a goose throws it back to Cookiee Kawaii’s “Vibe.”
@thejulianbass transforms himself into his favorite superheroes
@thejulianbass amazed audiences with editing skills that transformed him into superheroes like Ben 10 and Spiderman. The video has amassed over 2.7 million likes on TikTok, and also went viral on Twitter, racking up 25 million views and 1.4 million likes.
Gordon Ramsay’s cooking reactions
Gordon Ramsay is a fan favorite on the app and has more than 15.7 million followers who tune in for his expert commentary on amateur cooking videos. In August, the world-famous chef went viral for lightheartedly scolding his 20-year-old daughter, HollyAnna Ramsay, for not cooking potatoes the right way. The clip has garnered more than 14.5 million views.
Another day another ice run
Chocolate bars step-by-step
MasterChef finalist Nick Digiovanni, 24, demonstrated how TikTokers can make their own chocolate bars from scratch with cacao pods. He first shared the instructional video in September and again in November for a grand total of 32.2 million views to date.
