How to Track TikTok Trends

Catching a TikTok trend at the right time feels like a content jackpot, but just waiting for one to land on your For You Page is a recipe for being late. This guide will show you exactly how to find, track, and use trends before they've hit their peak and are on their way out. We’ll cover the on-platform tools and off-platform tricks that top creators use to stay ahead of the curve.

Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore TikTok Trends

Jumping on a trend isn't just about chasing views, it’s a smart organic growth strategy. When you participate in a trend, the TikTok algorithm understands that your video is part of a larger, popular conversation. This gives your content an immediate advantage, grouping it with other high-performing videos and pushing it out to new audiences who are already engaging with that sound, format, or effect.

Here’s the breakdown of what that actually means for you:

• Increased Reach: Tapping into a trend exposes your brand to thousands - or even millions - of potential followers who would have never seen your content otherwise.
• Higher Engagement: People are more likely to watch, like, and comment on a format they already recognize and enjoy. It’s familiar, it's timely, and it lowers the barrier for them to interact.
• Signals Relevance: Being an active participant in popular online culture shows that your brand is current and "in the know." It makes your account feel more human and less like a constant advertisement.
• Ideation on easy mode: Sometimes the hardest part of creating content is coming up with an idea. Trends provide a premade template. Your job is just to add your unique voice, industry spin, or sense of humor to the format.

Your Trend-Spotting Toolkit: A Mix of Active and Passive Methods

Being a good trend spotter means moving from a passive scroller to an active observer. It’s a mix of using TikTok’s built-in tools and keeping your finger on the pulse of internet culture. Here are the most effective ways to do it.

1. Use the TikTok App Like a Pro

The best place to find TikTok trends is, unsurprisingly, on TikTok. But you have to know where and how to look.

Treat Your "For You Page" as Research

Your FYP is your secret weapon, but only if you train it properly. As a creator or brand, your account's algorithm should be tuned to your niche. You can do this by:

• Following and interacting with other creators in your industry.
• Liking and commenting on videos that are relevant to your target audience.
• Saving videos that give you creative inspiration.

Once your FYP is dialed in, start 'trend-spotting scrolling sessions.' Instead of just consuming, look for patterns. Is the same song popping up with different clips? Are multiple people using the same green screen effect or Stitching the same video? When you see a single sound, joke format, or dance appear three or more times in a short scrolling session, you've likely found an emerging trend.

Use the Search Bar and Trending Feeds

While the old "Discover" page is gone for many users, its spirit lives on in the search functionality. Tap the search icon in the top right corner and take note of the suggestions that appear under "You may like." These are topics getting traction right now.

Type a general keyword related to your niche (e.g., "marketing tips," "small business owner," "fitness challenge") and look at the top-performing videos. Pay attention to the audio and formats being used, they are what’s currently resonating with viewers interested in that topic.

Unlock the TikTok Creative Center

The TikTok Creative Center is an official platform resource that many creators overlook, and it's pure gold for sniffing out trends. It’s a free dashboard that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s performing well across the entire platform.

Here's a simple step-by-step way to use it:

1. Go to the TikTok Creative Center website (you can find it with a quick Google search) and click on the "Trend Discovery" tool.
2. You can browse what's currently trending under four main tabs: Hashtags, Songs, Creators, and TikTok Videos.
3. For the best intel, use the filters. You can sort by region and industry to see what's popular with your specific audience. You can also filter trends from the Last 7 Days, which gives you the freshest-possible results.
4. When you click on a trending song or hashtag, you’ll see an analytics graph showing its popularity over time and demographic data for the audience engaging with it. A sharp upward spike on the graph is a clear indicator of a burgeoning trend.

Pro Tip for Brands: If you are a business using a Business Account, browse songs in the Commercial Music Library first. In the Creative Center, look for trending sounds, then check if they are available for commercial use. This protects you from potential copyright trouble.

2. Learn to Analyze Trending Audio

Sound is the backbone of almost every TikTok trend. Learning to spot audio that’s about to blow up is an essential skill.

When you're scrolling, pay attention to the little spinning music note icon at the bottom of a video. If you see a small, upward-facing arrow next to the song title, that means the sound is officially trending in your region.

But you can be earlier than that. When you hear a sound you like or see it used a couple of times:

• Click the sound: This takes you to its main audio page.
• Look at the number of videos: Is the number under 5,000-10,000? You might be early. If it's over 100,000, the trend is likely well-established or even past its peak.
• Sort the videos by 'Most Recent': Scroll down and check the dates on the first few videos uploaded with the sound. Was it ten months ago or two weeks ago? Audio that has existed for a while but suddenly sees a massive spike in recent uploads is prime trend material.

3. Scout for Clues Outside of TikTok

Cultures on different platforms cross-pollinate all the time. What's working on Instagram Reels or happening in the broader cultural conversation can give you a hint about what’s coming to TikTok next.

Watch Your Peers and Competitors

Keep a close eye on what successful creators and brands in your niche are doing. You’re not looking to copy them. Instead, you're looking for inspiration. Did a home organization account create a viral hit using a specific voiceover? You could adapt that voiceover for a day in the life of your business. Notice the top 3-5 creators in your space. When they all start using a particular filter or format, it's a solid sign that it's worth experimenting with.

Don't Live in a TikTok Bubble

Often, trends begin elsewhere and migrate to TikTok. Pay attention to what's happening on other platforms your audience uses.

• X (formerly Twitter): What memes or conversational phrases are taking hold? Phrases from viral tweets often get turned into popular TikTok audio.
• Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts: Since these platforms are also dominated by short-form video, you’ll frequently see trends emerge in one app and quickly spread to others.
• Cultural Events: A hugely popular new TV series, a major CGI movie release, or a big awards show can often spawn dozens of trends based on quotes or memorable moments.

Found a Trend? Here's How to Decide if It’s Right for You

Just because something is trending doesn’t automatically mean you should jump on board. Participating in the wrong trend can make your brand look out of touch or, even worse, disingenuous. Before you start filming, run through this quick mental checklist.

Does It Align with Your Brand Values?

Does the trend feel authentic to your voice and mission? If you run a serious B2B consulting firm, participating in a silly dance challenge might feel jarring to your audience. But maybe a "Day in the Life" trend that showcases your expertise would be a perfect fit. If it feels forced, your audience will feel it too.

Can You Act Fast Enough?

The lifespan of a TikTok trend can be brutally short. Some last for weeks, but others are over in a matter of days. If you find a trend that’s taking off, you need to create your version within 24-48 hours. If it takes you a full week to get approval and produce the video, chances are you've already missed the wave.

Can You Add a Unique Spin?

The best trend videos don't just replicate the original - they re-contextualize it for their niche. Hopping on a trend gets you seen, adding your industry’s perspective gets you remembered. Instead of just doing the trend, ask: "How can I relate this back to my audience's pain points, humor, or interests?"

Is It Safe for Your Brand?

Always do a quick check on the origin of a sound or challenge. Some trending audio can come from problematic sources, and participating without realizing the context can reflect poorly on your brand. A 30-second investigation of the top videos using the sound is often enough to understand the vibe and ensure it's something you want to be associated with.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to track TikTok trends is a skill that shifts you from being a reactionary content creator to a strategic marketer. By actively using the Creative Center, analyzing your FYP, watching trending sounds, and looking for patterns, you can get ahead of what's coming and create timely content that grabs the algorithm's attention.

But consistently finding trends is only half the battle, fitting them into an organized content schedule is what turns timely ideas into real growth. At Postbase, we designed our platform for the fast-paced reality of short-form video. The visual calendar lets us plan our trend-based videos right alongside our evergreen content, ensuring we have a complete view of what's going live across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. It keeps the creativity flowing without creating chaos. By helping organize our schedule in one central spot, Postbase gives us the headspace to focus on making great content, not just managing it.