Our favourite viral TikTok trends of 2023 so far

Internet culture is a rollercoaster, constantly changing, with a few loops. Here are our faves from the first chunk of 2023.

So far in 2023, we’ve not only seen a bunch of new trends emerge, but also had a few of them come back from the dead. Culture is cyclical and the internet moves at breakneck speeds, so it’s only fair that even things from a few years ago might crop up again.

Cat meowing at door

Which has the invention of the camera doorbell contributed to more? The safety and well-being of the people using them or meme culture? We joke but so many gaffs and fails these days are documented by a Ring doorbell for all the world to see.

A cat being held up to one of these cameras recently captivated TikTok users and was remixed into oblivion (almost literally by the example below).

@dawnguarddavid J'zargo is the goat 😽 #jzargo #khajiit #cats #riverwood #pov #dragonborn #npcs #nostalgia #dawnguarddavid #stormcloakpete #greenscreen #memes #fyp #skyrimtok #skyrimtiktok #skyrimmemes #theelderscrolls #skyrim #CapCut ♬ Secunda - Jeremy Soule

Tournament filters

Making a filter for TikTok is relatively simple, and loads of people have tried their hand at it. In the first few months of this year so far, there has been a huge influx in popularity for bracket-style filters. These filters present you with options that you pit against each other before finally picking the winner.

@hannahrarity What are you doing to me? #lotr #fyp #lgbt #cateblanchett #vigomortensen #lordoftherings #bi ♬ I did it my way - jpthemusicenjoyer

Dumb ways to die

Starting out in 2012 as a public service announcement by Metro Trains in Melbourne, the ten-year-old viral video has resurfaced as a TikTok sound.

Now you’ll see great clips of people and animals making questionable decisions to the ever-so-catchy tune of the original video.

@rileysshepherds What’s one more? 😆 #CapCut #dumbways #dumbwaystodye #somanydumbwaystodie #gsd #fyp #dogoftiktok #germanshepherd #k9 #k9unit #dogcorrections #requested #dumbwaystodiee #sideeye ♬ original sound - Riley’s Shepherds

Cellophane borzoi

This one has some history. Borzois are a dog breed known for their strange looks and eccentric personality. TikTok was filled with various cylindrical or long objects with dots drawn on to represent the eyes and nose for weeks.

@drawzillazzz How long can the nose go? #borzoi #borzoidog #longdog #pringlescanhands #pringles #animationmeme #animated #fypシ ♬ original sound - user57246212142

The sound used is a version of Cellophane by FKA Twigs, an incredibly powerful song that has since been dubbed with a Miss Piggy impression. This version of the song was just a joke made by a TikTok user that got swept up into this trend.

Do you feel bonita?

Family Guy clips are something you’ll likely have seen on TikTok, usually paired with Subway Surfer footage or a clip from something else entirely. But in the last few weeks, a particular clip has emerged as a trending sound.

@duhveena You look Bonita always🤭❤️ #familyguyclips #ifeelbonita #bonita #fypシ #relateable #bestfriend ♬ HEYYY WAIT A SECOND - THEREALFIERY

Nic Cage/Pedro Pascal

Taken from the criminally underrated Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, the clip used is from a scene where the two characters take hallucinogens. Now it has become a format for highlighting one confused/otherwise negative response to the other doing something gladly/unashamedly.

@chip2ner Pedro Pascal in Mario Kart #fyp #pedropascal #pedropascaledit #nicholascage #meme #pedropascalmeme #supermario #mariokart ♬ Make Your Own Kind Of Music - Mama Cass

Minecraft deepfakes

AI is becoming a larger part of daily life, but who knew that deepfakes would become a part of the meme culture lexicon? 2022 saw Yi Long Ma telling you he didn’t want your money…

@mayilong0 #ftx #dogecoin #elonmusk #tesla ♬ 原创音乐 - Yi long ma

And now AI voice capabilities have given us Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Donald Trump playing Minecraft together.

@korcle Donald Griefs Joe’s Wooden House! Like & Follow for PART 2! 👀❤️ #minecraft #minecraftmemes #biden #trump #aivoice #aimemes #viral ♬ Minecraft - C418

Goofy ahh soundboard

Another example of a particular filter taking over. This soundboard comes loaded with classic sound effects known and loved in meme culture. The Vine boom, oh hell naw, unexpected item in bagging area. You name it, it’s there.

@danieldevlin_ Sorry what now??🤠 #danieldevlin_ #soundboard ♬ original sound - Daniel Devlin

It quickly evolved into a particular trend where people would list the reasons they aren’t a perfect partner.

@lizziegrantssexcspawn THIS WAS TOO FUN LMFAOO #fyp #funny #trend #goofyahhsoundboard #pretty #dreamgirl #cheater #crazy #obsessive #chrisean #chriseanrock #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound - not ur average bitch

Gimme my lime

In a classic demonstration of how memes and trends grow and evolve, what started as people poorly drawing lime lips has become something else. Now often paired with SOPHIE’s Lemonade and the caption ‘Gimme my lime’, it has grown into a screamer. CAUTION: headphone users beware.