I Rigged the TikTok Algorithm to Make Me Go Viral

Introduction

In the ever-changing world of TikTok, where algorithmic nuances dictate who goes viral, I set myself a bold goal: to hit 1 million followers in just one week by uploading 50 videos. Looking back at my previous experience where I grew from 0 to 100,000 followers in a week, I was confident. However, the approach would be different this time. Instead of focusing on quantity, I wanted to experiment with interview-style content, hoping to engage viewers and stimulate interactions that would drive views.

I began by asking passersby simple questions, such as, “Can you name a TikToker?” Much to my surprise, many struggled to respond. As I navigated the streets, I started to wane in confidence compared to media figures like Billy Eichner, known for his spontaneous street interviews. Struggling to think of engaging questions, I knew I had to keep experimenting. My initial strategy involved generating interests through public surveys, hoping they would lead to organic interactions on my posts.

Despite my efforts, my first video on YouTube underperformed, sparking concern that the TikTok algorithm might not favor my content. The concept of doing spontaneous interviews needed a twist. So, I returned to the city on day two with cash in hand, hoping that incentives would encourage more participation. Interacting with beachgoers proved to be a better strategy; many were willing to share their thoughts on popular figures like Logan Paul, which added a layer of entertainment to my content.

Throughout the week, I tirelessly edited my videos, experimenting with techniques I had previously learned, like manipulating sound settings to maximize algorithmic exposure. As I tracked my progress, one video about reaching 100,000 followers gained unexpected traction, quickly becoming the backbone of my account's growth during that week.

However, as the days progressed, I began to feel overwhelmed by the lack of significant growth. Trying to clone the success of my viral video didn’t yield the results I anticipated. In a last-ditch effort to capture attention, I delved into TikTok trends and even considered creating an inside joke that would spread across the platform. This final idea involved generating a catchphrase that jokingly connected me to popular drama TikTokers, hoping to leverage their audience for my fanbase growth.

Unfortunately, while I managed to gather a few thousand more comments and leverage trending ideas, the momentum still wasn’t enough. The culmination of my journey left me with 103,000 new followers, with a huge spike of nearly 95,000 in just a single day. While the growth was notable, 1 million followers remained elusive.

The reality struck — virality on TikTok often hinges on participation in trending media rather than sheer effort and creativity. It became clear that drawing from popular culture and the algorithm’s nuances would likely deliver faster results, even if it felt disingenuous to watermark my content with trends.

In conclusion, although I aimed to prove that high-quality content could thrive on TikTok without succumbing to gimmicks, I ultimately realized that sustained success often requires alignment with the invisible forces of trends and popular content. For now, I'm turning toward YouTube, where the algorithm appears more favorable, but I remain tempted to try my hand at TikTok again in the future.

Keywords

• TikTok
• Algorithm
• 1 million followers
• Viral content
• Interview style
• Engagement
• Trends
• YouTube

FAQ

Q: What was your goal for TikTok?
A: My goal was to reach 1 million followers in one week by uploading 50 videos.

Q: Why did you focus on interview content?
A: I believed interview-style content could engage viewers and create interactions that would boost views.

Q: How did the TikTok algorithm impact your growth?
A: The algorithm seemed to favor trending content, which highlighted the difficulty of gaining followers through non-trendy, high-quality content alone.

Q: What was the outcome of your experiment?
A: I was able to gain 103,000 followers over the week, with a significant spike in a single day, but fell short of hitting 1 million followers.

Q: Are you going to continue using TikTok?
A: While I’m currently focusing on YouTube, I may attempt TikTok again, as I believe opportunities for growth still exist.