TikTok has one unimpeachable quality: it’s a great distraction.
I won’t labour over the details of 2020 – God knows we’re all well acquainted with it by now – but I found TikTok was a welcome anaesthetic through my year, and a brain-bleaching companion when I needed it most.
I wasn’t the only Australian who felt that way, either. TikTok has now shared its end-of-year data, detailing the content which distracted us from this year’s gnarliest realities (in 20-second bursts, at least).
Behold, the top ten TikToks which Australians loved the most in 2020, as curated by the app itself:
Bella Poarch and that head bobble
I’m fairly sure you can’t use TikTok without seeing this video, which features newly-minted social media superstar Bella Poarch bobbling her head to Millie B‘s M to the B. According to TikTok, Australia was hypnotised too, leaving this as the app’s #1 clip of the year.
@bellapoarchTo the ???? ???? ???? #fyp♬ M to the B – Millie B
Addison Rae x her mum x Megan Thee Stallion
This one does what it says on the tin: it’s TikTok megastar Addison Rae, 20, and her mum, Sheri Nicole, cutting shapes to Megan Thee Stallion‘s Savage. Sure, why not.
@addisonre@sherinicolee OK MAMA♬ Savage – Megan Thee Stallion
Michael Le shouldn’t go shopping
Welcome to the most aggressive cover of Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie in recorded history.
@justmaikoour performances be so good, its scary???????? @javierr♬ Hips Don’t Lie – Miguel González
The Inspired Unemployed waiting for the weekend (and The Weeknd)
Before providing creative input to legit runway shows, The Inspired Unemployed were on the tools, vibing to The Weeknd.
@theinspiredunemployedNot much got done today on the job site #blindinglights♬ original sound – T.I.U
Do a flip! No, like, a normal one
Most TikTok trends are designed to be easily replicable. Not this one. CrossFit athlete and fitness influencer Demi Bagby demonstrated an impressive choreographed backflip routine with old mate Scott Mathison, which, for most of us, would result in a herniated disc or three.
@demibagbyStand up challenge!!! #wedidit #fun #standupchallenge #challenge @scott_mathison_ @gymshark♬ Woah – KRYPTO9095
Woof
Australian comedy duo Marty and Michael more or less got this one right. No pats though?
@martyandmichaelIf humans acted like dogs… #martyandmichael #dog #ifhumansactedlikedogs #funny #comedy #fyp #4u #dogs♬ original sound – Marty and Michael
Harmonies: good
Kiwi young gun Jamayne Feast made a name for himself on the app by singing Flee Fly Flo with mates, but his account was nuked in February for reasons he said were unclear. Now, his account is back up and running, the harmonies remain, and Australia apparently couldn’t get enough of it.
@jamaynefeast_#fyp Non speed lol????♬ original sound – JamayneFeast
Of course The Wiggles are on here
The Wiggles are a versatile and generation-spanning bunch, as evidenced by this pretty competent take on the Renegade.
@thewigglesofficialWe out here ???? #thewiggles #fyp #renegade #renegadechallenge♬ Lottery – K CAMP
Shot, son
Aussie trickshot lords How Ridiculous make a strong showing on this list, courtesy of that time they dropped stuff from a chopper.
@howridiculous???? Catching ⚽️ from 1000 feet ????♬ original sound – howridiculous
Charli D’Amelio speaks up
As protests against racial inequality swept the planet earlier this year, teen influencer Charli D’Amelio, who currently commands 109 million followers on TikTok, spoke up.
“People of all colours… need to stand up for what is right and stick together,” she said.
@charlidamelio#blacklivesmatter♬ original sound – charli d’amelio
