TikTok is taking a fond look back at a jam-packed 2021.
The company, which has 1 billion users, has shared six total lists today in the spirit of year-end recapping. That said, it’s fairly unclear as to how the company derived its compilations of top videos, songs, and breakout creators. TikTok would only say it relied on engagement metrics, internal research, and trends analysis conducted this calendar year. The lists are specific to the U.S.
The top video of the year was Drone Dancing, courtesy of David ‘To Touch An Emu’ Allen, TikTok said, whereas the top song was Popp Hunna‘s “Adderall (Corvette, Corvette).” The company gave the breakthrough creator award to cat chef That Little Puff (pictured above), while the top tool used by its community in 2021 was the Psychedelic Clown effect.
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
TikTok also released slightly more nebulous lists for the most joy-making clips, as well as those who most optimally harnessed their platforms for social good. The latter honor went to Joel Bervell, who is fighting health disparities in medicine.
“There’s something really special about TikTok’s diverse community that people just can’t find anywhere else,” COO Vanessa Pappas said in a statement. “It’s been incredible to see the depths of entertainment and creativity from this community, and we’re delighted to celebrate all the ways we’ve come together this year on TikTok.”
You can check out the lists below:
Top videos
- @totouchanemu – Drone Dancing
- @chipmunksoftiktok – Squishy the Chipmunk hiding nuts in his mouth
- @_catben_ – Restocking at its finest
- @my_aussie_gal – Dog painting
- @zachking – Zach King disappearing into his art
- @tracy.oj – The original “Woman” dance video
- @chaotticgoood – Please don’t go
- @felixgabrielmusic – Here comes the boy musical edition
- @sunisalee_ – Sunisa Lee celebrating her gold
- @zeddywill – Bro who got you smiling like that?
Powered by joy
- @saveafox.rescue – A joyful fox
- @sarahforwarkholden – Baby laughs for the first time
- @valentinebrothers – Family hide and seek
- @jongraz – Is it a bones or no bones day?
- @Pudgywoke – Pudgy thanks the audience
- @missgunn2u – Child shark is hungry
- @camifrobabe – Saying goodbye to grandpa
- @andreas.choice – The cats want to come into the room
- @haylinic – Wife scratches off telling her husband she’s pregnant of her to-do list
- @deannagiulietti – Creator commits to the dress
Top songs
- “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” – Popp Hunna
- “Batman ” – LPB Poody
- “Bundles (feat. Taylor Girlz)” – Kayla Nicole
- “Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)” – Doja Cat
- “TWINNEM” – Coi Leray
- “Up” – Cardi B
- “Buss It” – Erica Banks
- “Astronaut In The Ocean” – Masked Wolf
- “Punk Monk” – Playboi Carti
- “drivers license” – Olivia Rodrigo
Breakthrough stars
- Chef Puff, @thatlittlepuff
- Oneya D’Amelio, @angryreactions
- Olivia Rodrigo, @livbedumb
- Lissette Eduardo, @chikybombomreal
- Taylor Swift, @taylorswift
- Anna Sitar, @annaxsitar
- Dr. Shah, @dermdoctor
- Emily Mariko, @emilymariko
- Mikayla Nogueira, @mikaylanogueira
- Jonathan Graziano, @jongraz
Top tools and effects
- Psychedelic Clown
- Inverted Filter
- Versailles Run
- Buffering
- Photo Crop
- Freeze Frame Slow Zoom
- Autumn Aesthetic
- Slow Zoom Taylor
- Renaissance Art (Green Screen Scan)
- Red and Blue Filter
Voices of change
- Joel Bervell, @joelbervell
- Scarlett Smith and Tiania Haneline, @scarlettandtiania
- Victor Fontanez, @vicblends
- Alexis Nelson, @AlexisNikole
- Otis Jones, @slntwrlddd
- Chante’ Reddest, @nativephotography
- Jesús Morales, @juixxe
- Shirley Raines, @beauty2thestreetz
