TikTok was flooded with millions of users recreating the Dalgona candy challenge and playing "Red Light, Green Light."
Early in 2021, TikTok was taken over by 19th-century maritime folk songs. Led by Scottish singer Nathan Evans’ rendition of "The Wellerman," users utilized the app’s duet feature to add harmonies and instrumentation. The trend became a "balm for weary sailors" stuck in lockdown and even earned Evans a record deal. 3. The "Couch Guy" Saga
It is impossible to discuss 2021 without the innocent joy of "The Corn Kid." Seven-year-old Tariq, interviewed by the YouTube channel Recess Therapy , delivered the most earnest monologue of the year: "It’s corn! A big lump with knobs. It has the juice."
Creators used a catchy musical backdrop to share humorous, insightful, or blunt "red flags" (warning signs) and "green flags" (positive traits) in relationships and dating. It became a primary way for users to discuss healthy relationship dynamics in a bite-sized format. top 10 mallu indian mms scandalssrg 2021
To celebrate Black History Month in the UK (October), TikTok launched the #ThisIsBlack campaign.
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We saw in Bernie’s mittens the exhaustion of politics. We saw in the Sea Shanty the desire to row a boat away from our laptops. We saw in the train escapes our primal fears. TikTok was flooded with millions of users recreating
5. The "Bones or No Bones" Pug: A Daily Barometer for Global Mental Health
The video quickly moved from amusement to a deep, multi-layered social media debate. While initial reactions involved memes, the conversation rapidly shifted toward empathy, medical concern, and systemic social issues. TikTok and Twitter users engaged in nuanced discussions about the immense societal pressures Black women face regarding hair aesthetics, the historical lack of accessible haircare education, and the corporate responsibility of brands to place explicit warnings on non-cosmetic chemical products.
Did you have a "Bones Day" or were you too busy carving Dalgona candy? Let’s discuss below! It has the juice
Why it went viral: Teenage rebellion meets clout economy. The Discussion: This was the most controversial viral trend of 2021. Social media split: Educators demanded TikTok ban the hashtag; teens argued "it’s just a prank." News outlets ran segments showing schools having to lock toilets and remove doors. The discussion eventually turned to ethics: Does deleting the hashtag solve the problem, or does reporting on it make it worse?
The social media discussion of 2021 was defined by —where a video meant to be shared with friends becomes national news (see: Devious Lick, Couch Guy). It was also the year we realized that "canceling" was out, but "intense critical analysis of vibes" was very much in.
Looking back at 2021, the algorithm didn't reward perfection. It rewarded tension . The videos that blew up weren't the ones everyone agreed with; they were the ones that forced you to comment "Unpopular opinion, but..."
The imagery immediately turned into a universal metaphor for modern burnout and systemic struggle. Social media discussions revolved around the fragility of global supply chains, but the core dialogue was deeply personal. Users superimposed their own daily anxieties onto the image: the excavator represented individual effort, while the ship represented crushing corporate workloads, mental health struggles, or global pandemics. The viral moment underscored how internet culture uses humor to process complex, overwhelming global crises.