I tried to go viral on TikTok and failed miserably.

Introduction

Have you ever scrolled through TikTok and thought to yourself, "Why are they famous? They just moved their limbs or muscles in a certain way for less than 15 seconds, and boom! 50 million likes later, a collaboration with American Eagle, Hollister, and a half-assed music career"? It's easy to feel the envy and question your own potential when you see these viral stars leading glamorous lives. This led me to a realization: why can't I do that? I consider myself conventionally attractive and entertaining, so surely I have what it takes if it appears so easy.

After some self-reflection—something I don't normally indulge in—I set a goal: I wanted to become the next viral TikTok sensation in just one week. Armed with the help of my Twitch chat, I brainstormed content ideas, picked out a username (officialgabstergaby), and prepared my plan. The question was, could I really go viral quickly? What would it take?

The Fundamentals Behind Going Viral

In the midst of my TikTok exploration, I stumbled upon many so-called "viral hack" videos and noticed a few common elements between them. I compiled these into a list of strategies to follow throughout the week:

1. Post at least three times a day at the same time each day.
2. Log out of the app quickly after posting to encourage TikTok to send notifications.
3. Avoid liking your own videos.
4. Make quality content.

In just one week, I had to film 21 TikToks (three per day) if I wanted to maximize my potential for going viral.

Day 1: The Reality Check

Fast forward to my self-proclaimed "Sundays for the TikTok Gods." I spent my Sunday afternoon filming three TikToks. I spent hours getting ready and, much to my surprise, ended up with only three completed videos by 3 PM! The overwhelming struggle left me questioning if it was even worth it. My initial content ideas quickly turned to frustration.

I decided to try a comedic approach, even though humor isn't exactly my forte, and asked my friends for follow support to get my account started on the right foot. My first video flopped with only 25 views—definitely not encouraging. But my second video picked up steam with over 500 views after making some tweaks.

Day 2: The Demotivation Beast

As I posted my second video, I realized I was looking for a sign of success to validate my efforts. Producing content felt like a job where your worth was reflected by likes and views. Despite knowing that those analytics are purely algorithm-based, it couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. As the days progressed, I felt deflated and disconnected from the process.

The Algorithm and the Emotional Rollercoaster

Here’s where it gets interesting: TikTok's algorithm shows your posts to a small sample of users initially. If your content resonates with viewers, it gets shown to more people. Low engagement can lead to fewer views, regardless of quality. This leads to a discouraging cycle where you start to doubt your worth based on metrics alone.

YouTube operates slightly differently. The platform relies heavily on enticing titles and thumbnails to attract clicks. However, TikTok presents content differently—users stumble across videos on their For You pages rather than searching for specific content.

The Conclusion: A Humbled Experience

After three days of posting regularly, lacking immediate feedback, I lost motivation and abandoned my TikTok project altogether. It was exhausting to chase virality without enjoying the process. The desire for views overshadowed the joy of creating.

While I initially hesitated to share my abandoned TikTok journey, I realized that failures are just as important to discuss as successes. Many creators have numerous ideas that never go viral, contributing to a false narrative that success on platforms like TikTok is easy.

Creating content should stem from passion rather than the pursuit of likes. If you find yourself feeling disheartened due to low engagement, remember: don’t let it consume you or overshadow your enjoyment of the process.

If you found value in this article, please consider subscribing for more insights, and who knows, maybe I can finally do that hair cut at 5,000 subscribers!

Keywords

viral, TikTok, content creation, algorithm, views, pretty privilege, engagement, mental health

FAQ

What did you learn from trying to go viral on TikTok?
I learned that the amount of views doesn't equate to the quality of content, and it’s crucial to prioritize enjoying the creative process over measuring success by metrics.

Why did you choose to focus on comedy content?
I posted a poll to my followers, and they suggested comedy, which forced me out of my comfort zone despite not considering myself particularly funny.

Why did your videos struggle to gain traction?
The struggle stemmed from TikTok's algorithm, which shows videos to a small sample of users. If that sample doesn't engage, it could result in low visibility and subsequently fewer views.

What is "pretty privilege," and how does it relate to TikTok?
Pretty privilege, also known as the halo effect, suggests that attractive individuals are perceived more favorably in society. This can influence engagement on platforms like TikTok, where users may interact more with content created by attractive individuals.

Would you try to go viral on TikTok again?
While I may consider taking another shot at TikTok, it would be essential for me to focus on enjoying the content creation process rather than solely chasing views.