How to Bet on Social Media Trends: Spotting the Next TikTok Star

TikTok has exploded in popularity over the last few years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms worldwide. The app is best known for its short, entertaining videos that often go viral. While TikTok stars like Charli D’Amelio and Khaby Lame have gained massive followings of over 100 million users each, new stars are emerging all the time. If you want to spot the next big TikTok celebrity before they hit it big, here are some tips.

Follow Trending Sounds and Challenges

One of the best ways to find rising talent on TikTok is to follow popular sounds and challenges. When a new sound or dance goes viral on the app, early adopters who make creative videos using it tend to gain followers quickly. Track trending sounds and challenges under TikTok’s discovery tab and look for standout creators who are putting a unique spin on them. Talented users who ride a trending sound or dance to popularity early on have a good chance of becoming breakout stars.

Pay attention to both brand-new sounds that are just starting to take off and already established trending sounds. Newer trending sounds may indicate totally fresh faces beginning to make a name for themselves, while creators breathing new life into more familiar viral sounds can also gain momentum quickly.

Look at Accounts with Rapid Follower Growth

Keep an eye out for accounts that are gaining followers at an unusually fast rate. While having lots of followers doesn’t necessarily make someone a standout creator, fast follower growth can signal that they’re doing something right and resonating with viewers.

To find these rising accounts, search under TikTok’s “People” tab and sort by “New” rather than “Top.” Look for profiles that have amassed tens or hundreds of thousands of followers within a short time frame. Fast-growing accounts may soon join the ranks of mega TikTok celebrities.

Pay attention not just to the total number of followers but the rate of growth. Someone with 50,000 followers doesn’t seem like much compared to the top stars, but if they gained 40,000 of those followers in the last three weeks, they are on a trajectory to be big. Their momentum and engagement make them worth watching closely.

Check Out Collab Houses and Collectives

Many up-and-coming TikTok stars live together in collab houses where they film videos and leverage each other’s audiences. By joining forces, collab house members can help boost each other’s profiles and gain followers more quickly. Some examples are The Hype House, The Sway House, and Clubhouse. Follow the accounts run by these collab houses, which highlight their most popular residents.

The standout creators in each house often see their solo accounts grow substantially too and can break out as independent stars even after leaving the collab house where they got their start. Keep tabs on creators both within collab houses and on their own to spot who is gaining traction.

See Who Is Getting Noticed by Major Brands

Watch who major brands choose to partner and sponsor with. Companies like Chipotle, Hollister, and Lyft are eager to work with TikTok’s top talent. Spotting a creator who is scoring big brand partnerships and sponsorships early on can clue you into who will hit it big next.

These sought-after collaborations allow influencers to monetize their accounts, create more polished content, and expand their visibility with new audiences. Brand interest validates an influencer’s appeal and signals staying power.

Follow Your Interests

The TikTok creators who will appeal to you most are likely the ones who make videos about topics you care about. Make use of TikTok’s “For You” feed, which shows content based on your interactions. Follow hashtags and sounds related to your hobbies, passions, and entertainment interests. Engage heavily with videos focused on subjects you like.

The app will then start recommending more niche creators making that type of content. If you vibe with an up-and-coming influencer in a specialized niche, chances are others with your interests will too. They have breakout potential.

Trust Your Instincts on Charisma

Some personalities just shine through even in short video clips. Keep an eye out for standout charisma and camera presence that capture your attention. While good looks, viral challenges, and trend-chasing can all help a TikTok user gain initial followers, exceptional charm and stage presence tend to separate the stars who will achieve long-term fame on the platform.

Lean into creators whose energy and watchability feel special. If they wow you, they likely will wow millions of others too in time. That “it” factor is hard to fake and a key indicator of a future celebrity.

Seek Out Cross-Platform Potential

Look for TikTok creators who seem primed for crossover fame on other social media sites too. For example, TikTok dance creators who could thrive on Instagram Reels as well, funny sketch comedians who could blow up on YouTube, or gamers who could stream on Twitch.

Multi-platform talent has the ability to tap into a broader audience across sites and convert TikTok fans into followers elsewhere. Their widespread appeal gives them more ways to build stardom.

Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, go with your gut feeling on who stands out from the crowd and seems destined for fame. First impressions of someone’s talent, charm, and originality are often accurate. If a new creator immediately grabs you, chances are good they will connect broadly.

Spotting rising social media stars early takes some savvy, but it can be done by tapping into viral trends, fast follower growth, collaborations, brand partnerships, niche interests, magnetic charisma, cross-platform potential, and overall watchability. Identify standout creators in their infancy, and you might just pick the next Charli D’Amelio or Addison Rae.

Keep exploring TikTok’s emerging talent and trust your instincts when a creator captures your attention. The TikTok megastars of tomorrow are out there building audiences right now. With a keen eye and these tips, you can become one of their first followers.