“Trending On TikTok” by Alicia Bruce & Ronnie Bruce, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. Image Source: Bajwa, Amjad Pervaiz. “TikTok Domination: How to Create Addictive Videos That Go Viral.” Medium, 27 Dec. 2023, https://medium.com/@bajwaamjad/tiktok-domination-how-to-create-addictive-videos-that-go-viral-e031c50f2f65

Writer: Hailey Jong

TikTok has become the ultimate culture machine. From dance challenges to beauty hacks, these trends are meant to be fun, but they can carry hidden consequences. 

Culture in the Age of Sharing

In today’s online world, culture does not live in one place anymore. It travels through screens, sound bites, and snippets of fifteen-second videos. From Korean skincare routines to Black hairstyles, and from Indian-inspired henna designs to Latin-inspired dance moves, TikTok allows people from all backgrounds to experiment and appreciate styles they might never have discovered otherwise.

Many argue that borrowing cultural practices counts as appropriation, but I believe there’s another side to it. When people respectfully engage with other cultures, they’re learning, connecting, and celebrating diversity. Sharing styles like brown lip liner and clear gloss or protective hairstyles doesn’t always erase their roots; it often helps people see the beauty in different traditions.

Of course, credit and context matter. If someone presents a cultural element as their “new trend” without acknowledging its history, that’s erasure. But when someone participates with curiosity and respect, it becomes appreciation, something that social media, at its best, was built for.

The Real Problem: Viral Influence on Young Audiences

The real issue with TikTok trends might not be cultural sharing at all; it’s how easily they expose young children to things they aren’t ready for.

Recently, brands like Drunk Elephant and the rise of “Sephora kids” have shown how fast the algorithm can turn a skincare routine into an obsession. Children as young as eight are spending hundreds of dollars on anti-aging products because their favorite influencer used them in a “Get Ready With Me” video. The line between “inspiration” and “influence” becomes dangerously thin.

TikTok’s endless feed doesn’t filter by age, so kids often stumble upon content meant for older teens or adults, including expensive beauty regimens, diet-related trends, or even unrealistic lifestyle standards. Instead of encouraging self-expression, some of these trends push kids towards insecurity and overconsumption.

When Trends Move Faster Than Maturity

The issue isn’t that culture is shared; it’s that everything is shared without boundaries. The algorithm doesn’t care if you’re twelve or twenty; it only cares if you will watch. That is what makes trends powerful, but also risky.

Trends like glass skin, contouring, and anti-aging routines have turned self-care into competition. Young audiences are learning that to be relevant, you must be flawless, and that message spreads faster than any cultural exchange ever could.

Celebration, Not Containment

So maybe the conversation shouldn’t just be about cultural appropriation. Maybe it should also be about digital responsibility, especially how creators, parents, and platforms can protect young audiences while still keeping the door open for shared creativity.

Final Thoughts

TikTok’s greatest strength is its ability to connect people across cultures. It’s where a dance from Nigeria can inspire a student in Canada, and where a beauty routine from Korea can change how the world views skincare. 

That kind of connection is powerful, but as Tiktok continues to blend cultural boundaries, we need to make sure it doesn’t erase common sense in the process. Culture should be shared, but maturity and responsibility should be too.

Works Cited:

Security, Panda. “Is TikTok Safe for Kids? – Panda Security.” Panda Security Mediacenter, 11 Dec. 2023, http://www.pandasecurity.com/en/mediacenter/is-tiktok-safe-for-kids/.

Templeton, Rita. “The Dumbest (and Deadliest) TikTok Trends Targeting Teens & Tweens.” SheKnows, 23 July 2025, http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/slideshow/1234905647/tiktok-challenges-dangerous/.