Malaysia Year on TikTok 2023: Scroll back with our community

2023 was the year we learned a new life hack (or two!), laughed out loud - and couldn't stop thinking about the Roman Empire. Our global community of over 1 billion people continues to come together to connect on TikTok, positively influencing culture and impacting lives.

From foolproof recipes to funny skits, throwback tracks and thriving small businesses, the TikTok community continued creating, connecting and celebrating authenticity on TikTok throughout 2023. In Malaysia, we found out how to make concur kid kendang, learned sign language, and even figured out how to make a paper plan fly for a longer distance!

"Year on TikTok 2023 is a way for us to honor some of the standout moments that have happened on TikTok throughout the year. It's a window into stories that have inspired, entertained and educated over 1 billion people around the world. Thank you for another year of bringing joy to our community and sharing your creativity with us," said Adam Presser, Head of Operations, TikTok.

Join us as we stroll down memory lane and look back on an incredible year that saw us learning, laughing, inspiring, imagining, entertaining and exploring - as we scroll back to this year's most memorable trends, creators and moments with our community.

In 2023, trending content took over For You feeds around the world - especially in the entertainment, lifestyle & education and sports categories. We were mesmerized by Dollievision's makeup routine, that Capybara song and the brilliance of sheep dogs - so many good memories, you can almost hear it! In Malaysia, we enjoyed singing Duo Anggrek, learning about Ramadan, and getting inspired by high energy dancing! Keep on reading to discover the most popular videos and trends that had everyone saying, 'have you seen that TikTok about...?' this yea

In Malaysia

@itsme.hairie: This video, which features Hairie singing Duo Anggrek while playing the guitar, reached 97M views!
@pidass: This fun, positive, and energetic video, which has reached 57M views, will make you get up and dance!
@upinipinofficial: This video features the beloved characters Upin & Ipin as they learn about Ramadan.
@vt800958s3h: This video, which has reached 33M views, shows how to make paper plans that fly long distances
@frh.aida: This video shows a creative transition trend of handing flowers while changing outfits and has reached 26M views.

Around the world

@seanthesheepman: #FarmTok lives on with Sean the Sheep man and his dogs Kate, Storm, Echo and Monty, showing the brilliance and intelligence of sheep dogs.
@kirbyquimado: Discover a super easy and creative way to make a yummy snack using bread!
@jazephua: Groove to the infectious beat of 2023 viral Capybara Song!
@unknowndazza: Here's the tale of Frodrick the Frog - and his 3D printed house.
@gabryellurlan: Being grateful for the day while listening to birds arguing at 6:00 am.

From catchy pop tunes to comeback tracks, TikTok artists gave us the soundtrack of 2023. This year, our most popular song was "Cupid – Twin Ver – Sped Up Version" by FIFTY FIFTY. Capitalizing on the TikTok audience's affinity for sped-up songs, this version of "Cupid" was a viral sensation, kicking off a number of trends from food tutorials and outfit picks to CapCut memes, which have been hugely popular this year. The trends drove millions of streams, resulting in the first Billboard 100 entry for the K-pop girl group. Turn up the volume and check out TikTok's most popular songs of the year.

Mae Stephens (maestephens_), whose hit "If We Ever Broke Up" landed #2 on this year's list of most popular songs on TikTok globally, was able to quit her supermarket job this year to make music full-time.“I have TikTok to thank for giving me the chance to achieve my childhood's wildest aspiration! The platform is incredible for growth – growing from a few followers to get high exposure was such a quick switch - I went from working in a supermarket to living my dream! Push and work for what you want - everyone has a chance to succeed on TikTok," she said.

In Malaysia

Around the world

"Cupid – Twin Ver – Sped Up Version" - FIFTY FIFTY: With over 20 million creations, "Cupid - Twin Ver" by K-Pop group FIFTY FIFTY is the biggest song on TikTok in 2023. Capitalizing on the TikTok audience's affinity for sped-up songs, this version of "Cupid" was popular across the board as a backing track to food tutorials to outfit fit picks.
"If We Ever Broke Up" - Mae Stephens: Mae Stephens was working in a supermarket when she posted a 15-second clip of "If We Ever Broke Up" that went completely viral, earning her a record deal through EMI. The track, which has become a break-up anthem for TikTok's broken hearted, went on to be used in over 15 million videos, making it the second-most popular song on TikTok in 2023.
"Collide (more sped up)" - Justine Skye: TikTok continues to demonstrate its power to breathe new life into older music releases with Justin Skye's "Collide." Originally recorded in 2014, when a sped-up version of the track became an earworm popular among every type of TikTok creator imaginable, it soared to over 13 million creations on TikTok and made Skye an RIAA Gold-Certified artist, and earned her a late night appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
"What It Is - Solo Version" - Doechii: With an insatiable hook derived from an interpolation of Trillville's "Some Cut" (a TikTok hit in its own right), in 2023 Doechii builds on her previous TikTok successes and breaks out into the mainstream with "What It Is," earning her first Billboard Hot 100 chart appearance, as well as a spot opening for Beyonce's Renassiance Tour.
"มองนานๆ" - FLI:P: A T-Pop phenomenon breaks through and achieves one of the most popular songs globally on TikTok in 2023 with "มองนานๆ," which translates roughly to "Look For A Long Time," by FLI:P. The group, consisting of three members Winnie the Pooh, Belle, and Meiji, are known for their dance moves, the very element that made the song so popular on TikTok across the globe.
"La Bebe (Remix)" - Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma: TikTok was instrumental in helping Mexico's Peso Pluma become one of the biggest worldwide breakout stars of 2023, where "La Bebe (Remix)" feat Yng Lvcas earned millions of creations worldwide, becoming the most popular of the many tracks by Pluma to trend across the globe this year.
"LALA" - Myke Towers: Becoming one of the biggest tracks ever from Puerto Rico's Myke Towers, "LALA" cracked the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to its popularity on the platform. The trend was heavily promoted by Towers himself, who frequently shared clips on the road throughout his big year.
"girls like me don't cry (sped up)" - thuy: Vietnamese-American thuy's break up anthem "girls like me don't cry" hit TikTok and became an instant success, but it was the sped up version of the track that became synonymous with everything from DIY and makeup tutorials.
"TQG" - KAROL G & Shakira: Featuring two of the top 10 biggest global artists on TikTok, it's no wonder that "TQG," which became an instant hit among TikTok users due to its culturally-relevant lyrics, and in turn, one of the top 10 most popular songs worldwide on TikTok in 2023.
"Makeba" - Jain: Breathing life into songs from the past is TikTok's special, but thanks primarily to a CapCut filter featuring comedian actor Bill Hader, "Makeba" by French singer-songwriter Jain rose to new heights in 2023, becoming a global top 10.

Every day, a star is born on TikTok. This year, we were entertained and inspired by an entire galaxy of creators, who remain the beating heart of our platform. From the iconic #TubeGirl aka Sabrina Bahsoon to a cute border collie named Pluto, as well as Khairulaming's mouth-watering Malaysian dishes, here are the breakthrough creators, celebrities and artists who made it on and beyond TikTok in 2023.

In Malaysia

@sir_asai: Sir Asai rose to fame by making educational videos on how to pronounce English words correctly. His TikTok tutorials, including the differences between English versus English in Kelantan, how to use certain English words in a sentence, and other useful tips won TikTok Awards Malaysia 2023 Winner of Best of Education.
@shahirazlan: Shahira is best known for her before-and-after makeup transformations and beauty care tutorials. She is also the TikTok Awards Malaysia 2023 Winner of Best of Beauty & Fashion.
@khairulaming: Khairul Aming’s name is synonymous with his viral Ramadhan cooking series, entitled “30 Hari 30 Resepi”. His delectable dishes - and his signature Sambal Nyet - has won him the TikTok Awards Malaysia 2023 Winner of Creator of The Year
@sultan_riq: Won the TikTok Awards Malaysia 2023 Winner of Best of Gaming Winner
@sofyank96: Sofyank is known for his mind-bending and mind-boggling visual effects - and even got to collaborate with his idol, US creator Zach King.

Around the world

@sabrinabahsoon: The iconic Tube Girl, aka Sabrina Bahsoon, has transcended the globe with her London Underground-inspired aesthetic.
@chefmaxmariola: Chef Max transforms each culinary creation into an entertaining show, such as his recipe for a Gricia—give it a try to witness the magic!
Iimeeto: Known as one of the best comedy creators in the Middle East, Mohammed Shami is famous for his hilarious and relatable family-inspired skits.
@mygoldenpartner: Pluto, a cute 5-year old border collie, makes everyone smile with their quick ability to pick up new tricks, overseas adventures, and exciting experiences with other furry friends.
@boakeadamsson: Bo Åke is a 82-year-old Swedish painter, sculptor and graphic artist, who was convinced by his son Carl to join TikTok and now inspires almost a million followers as he showcases his art everyday.

TikTok is a musical playground where artists and songwriters come together to propel tracks and trends at the speed of culture. In 2023, we had Selena Gomez (@selenagomez), BTS (bts_official_bighit), and Kim Loaiza (@kimberly.loaiza) on repeat and repeat. These artists topped the charts, including some from our very own community like Jovynn (@itsjovynn) and Baby Shima (@babyshimaofficial). Here are the most popular artists whose songs took over our ears and For You feeds in 2023.

In Malaysia

Around the world

Kim Loaiza (@kimberly.loaiza): Mexican singer Kim Loaiza holds onto the crown for the most-viewed artist globally on TikTok for 2023, now boasting over 80 million followers on the platform.
Selena Gomez (@selenagomez): Pop princess and songwriter Selena Gomez is a TikTok favourite with 59.3 million followers. The artist regularly shares day in the life and makeup content with the community.
BLACKPINK (bp_tiktok): Leading the way as #KPop reaches 477 billion views on TikTok is BLACKPINK. With 47.1 million followers and a catalogue of viral sounds, BLACKPINK has built a community of die-hard fans on platform.
BTS (bts_official_bighit): An incredible year for K-Pop superstars BTS who became the first artists to use TikTok's 'New Release' feature as their BTS anniversary challenge reached 400 million views in a week.
Feid (ferxxo444): The community has been in their 'Feid era' in 2023. From scoring his first entry on Billboard Hot 100 Chart earlier this year, Feid has climbed to #5 artist globally on TikTok with 13.1 million followers.
ENHYPEN (@enhypen): Fast-rising K-Pop group ENHYPEN debut on the Global Hitmakers list at #6 having wowed audiences on and off platform, including an iconic recent performance on Good Morning America.
KAROL G (@karolg): Latin Grammy award winning Columbian star Karol G is loved by the TikTok community with 'Qlona', her collaboration with Peso Pluma featuring in 1 million TikTok videos.
LE SSERAFIM (@le_sserafim): Another debut entry for a K-Pop group, LE SSERAFIM has been making waves on platform, with 8.3 million followers and trending songs 'Perfect Night' and 'ANTIFRAGILE' proving popular with the community.
NewJeans (@newjeans_official): Known for their captivating dance skills, NewJeans have caught fire on TikTok this year, with over 10 million followers leading them to become the fastest K-pop act ever to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.
Shakira (shakira): Queen of Latin music, Shakira took over playlists this year with her hit single ‘BZRP Music Sessions, Vol 53’ which racked up over 4.4 million video creations in app, with appearances from her and her dance team.

TikTok is a place where you can start small, but think - and achieve - big. No one knows this better than our small business owners who truly felt the positive impact of our community in 2023. Thanks to trending hashtags like #SMB and #SmallBusiness, #TikTokShop #sapotlokal, we discovered a dad's t-shirt designs from the 80s and 90s and free lawn mower service to Sydney locals by the one and only Tim Parker. Closer to home, we have local businesses like @stylarembroidery and creators like @abang_naz who use their platform to bring awareness to local businesses. Here are some of the most beloved small businesses that inspired us in 2023.

In Malaysia:

@bapabros: Through the hashtag #makanlokal, @bapabros features his son eating local food and filming his reactions
@abang_naz: Through the hashtag #businessguru, @abang_naz promotes kindness by using his marketing expertise to help local small businesses
@shafiemabror: Through the hashtag #bisonline, @shafiemabror gives housewives ideas on how they can have a second income
@trashcycle.my: Through the hashtag #sapotlokal, @trashcycle.my features activities and places to go on the weekend with a budget of less than RM 50 to support local businesses
@heytoyworld_mas: Through the hashtag #smallbusinessowner, @heytoyworkd_mas shares her journey of starting her own business to motivate others to do the same.
@stylar.embroidery: A local embroidery business that offers unique designs

Around the world

@pluck_and_plant: Pluck and Plant, a bistro in Ikejiri-Ohashi that was losing ¥1 million every month, quadrupled its sales in just three months after using TikTok. The company won an award in the gourmet food category at the TikTok Trend Awards 2023.
@lazy_butt_club: San Diego-based Lazy Butt Club is run by father-son duo Michael and Daniel Jay. With the help of TikTok Shop and a few viral videos, the father and son team grew their business and sold thousands of their t-shirts featuring their iconic lounging, lazy characters.
@newmartina: Carmen Fiorito aka New Martina is known as the cell phone cover queen, who has turned her everyday job focused on mobile phone decorations into a thriving business.
@timthelawnmowerman: The grass is always greener... if Tim pays a visit. This generous firefighter provides free 'Random Acts of Mowing' to those who need a helping hand within the Aussie community.
@isma_rugs: Ismael is an artist from Oaxaca, creator of amazing handmade rugs.

With so much educational content, we learn while we scroll on TikTok! In 2023, #BookTok taught us that reading is cool again and #CleanTok showed us the most helpful household hacks. In Malaysia, we learned how to do magic tricks, make a pudding cake with Milo, and even gained knowledge about Malaysian law. Discover the most popular trends, tricks and how-to's that made our lives even better in 2023.

In Malaysia

@mosteleyy_bestz: Abang Bestz is a magician who shares magic tips to TikTok users.
@lawyergandhi: Lawyer Gandhi is a Malaysian lawyer delivering videos to answer law-related topics for user general information purposes only.
@sir_asai: Sir Asai is a great role model for Teaching Can Be Fun Too!
@limaunipisofficial: Hidayah shares an easy recipe for cooking a Milo pudding cake without using an oven and mixer.
@shahirazlan: Shahira shows that there's more to putting on makeup - it can be an artform to express creativity
@auntiepurple248: Auntiepurple248 teaches us that creativity has no age limit. You can still shine as long as you are confident!

Around the world

@mrbeandamatematica: Rafael Bastos aka Mr Bean da Matemática shows us a trick to make division much easier!
@james.bok: Canadian creator James Bok captured global attention with a revelation that resonated with practically everyone: the art of selecting the perfect watermelon, a foolproof hack to fruit selection.
@rijksmuseum: In a video created by the Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, The Milkmaid, a 17th century painting by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer, is brought to life and explained from an artist's perspective.
@patriciafedz: Patricia Fernández is a Spanish creator whose pop culture, history and literature mashup videos provide an endless source of entertainment for her fans.
@jack.designs: Jack Callaghan shares handy #CleanTok hacks along with other cleaning and household wellbeing tips.

This year, the TikTok community continued to bring their creativity to life and push the boundaries of self-expression through a diverse array of community effects, sounds, filters and more, with over 25 billion videos created using community effects to date. This year, we all loved sharing our versions of Girl Dinner, acting like we were in a Wes Anderson film and raising our red, green and beige flags. Here are the most popular trends made possible by unique features - and our creativity - in 2023.

In Malaysia

Cartoonified AI Looks: Use AI to cartoonify your face!
Vibe effect: Shoot videos with a fish eye lens for a different vibe.
Finger Dancing: It's harder than it looks! Try simple finger dances with friends and family.
Soda Gembira Challenge: Make your own version of this popular local drink
Suasana Di Hari Raya: Share your tips and tricks for the ultimate Raya celebration!

Around the world

Red, green and beige flags (8.5b views): This trio of filters created by Laura Gouillon helped creators identify the best, worst, and slightly annoying aspects of their and their loved ones' personalities - the signals one can't ignore.
#WesAnderson (2.7b views): From the composition, to the colour grading, music and editing, Wes Anderson's iconic movies inspired creators' inner Hollywood auteur.
Aged filter (800m views): This filter allowed creators to turn the clock forward, giving them a hilarious and heartwarming glimpse at what they could look like in a few decades' time.
AI Style (615m views): The AI style filter inspired creators to cartoonify themselves, adding a creative twist to their videos.
The Sim Simma Challenge (25m views): Inspired by a decades-old dancehall hit, this global phenomenon was embraced by creators around the world, including The Kardashians, Ciara, and in this case, The Toronto Argos, a Canadian football team.

We also recognized Creators who are bringing awareness to their advocacies. Whether it's gaming, films, or football, creators like Fan (@fancfreakz), Azmira (@azmirakmar), or Nasseb Ali (@refereekampung), these Wavemakers inspire and educate others who share similar interests, passions and vocations, in creative ways.

@fancfreakz - Fan creates educational gaming content and was able to hit 1 million views in conjunction with the Malaysia Independence day holiday.
@cikgumisai - Cigku is a teacher and seasoned gaming creator who shares the latest gaming campaigns, news, updates and tips.
@eiqamaleq - Eiqa transformed her love for k-drama into recommendations that she shares with her audience. She has done collaborations with local and international artists, including Dato Siti, Calumn Scott, Alec Benjamin, and many more.
@azmirakmar - Azmir's daily dose of movie reviews has made him one of the go-tos for the latest TV shows and movies.
@refereekampung - Nasseb Ali uses his experience as a certified referee to create content and share knowledge about football.
@ammaranuwar - Ammar is a football coach who shares tips and best plays when it comes to football.

In 2023, creators continued to push boundaries, inspiring others to learn something new and advocate for causes they care about. Whether it's Irin Putri, who is an autism advocate, or Anissaa Jailani, who is a deaf creator who teaches sign language, these creators are making a huge difference around the world. Here are the Creators who are using TikTok to spark good this year.

@irin_putri: Irin Putri is a TV producer and host and an autism advocate
@sarahnursuhaimi: Sarah features her daily life with her autistic son
@drizamsuziani: Dr Izam is an autism mom and advocate
@adamsautismfamily: An account that documents the life of Adam, who has autism
@anissa.jailani_ : Anissa is a deaf creator who teaches Malaysian sign language
@lbk2907: Loh Boon is a visually-impaired Chinese Muslim who shares his story to the public

We also featured the best Malaysia food finds, whether its Ceddy (@ceddyornot) showing unique and entertaining food tours across Malaysia or Shahril (@shahrilwokay2) inspiring us to explore the hidden gems within Malaysia's smaller towns and cities. There were also creators who inspired Malaysians to try their hand at new recipes, like Adik Foods (@adikfoods)'s well-loved family recipe for 'cucur kentang' and Chef Dave's (chefdaveveganjourney) papaddam goreng masala recipe, which showed a simple way to spice up a Malaysian favourite!

@khairulaming - Khairul's #MaggiGorengBasah got 21M video views!
@adikfoods - Adik Foods shared a well-loved family recipe for cucur kentang
@chefdaveveganjourney - Chef Dave is an Indian chef who shares vegan recipes.
@ceddyornot - Ceddy released a video series of "Take Ceddy Out" showcasing the recommended food places from his friends, including local celebrities and content creators
@akiejack - Ackie Jack is known for his mukbang content and recommendations - and he'll always listen to fan requests for new food content or food ideas to eat
@shahrilwokay2 - Shahril is a foodie creator focusing on food tour recommendations around the Malaysian states.

Celebrate Year on TikTok 2023 with us

As we wrap up yet another memorable year on TikTok, get ready to celebrate with us in Malaysia with #Hello2024, LIVE Fest, and many other exciting events!

Let's scroll it back on TikTok! Learn more about this year's most unforgettable trends, creators and moments via our our in-app hub here or search #YearOnTikTok on the app.

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Year on TikTok 2023 is based on internal research and trends analysis conducted from January to October 2023.

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