We also watched brands capitalize on these memes — some expertly, some not iranian whatsapp so much. Now that the year is over, we can safely name the trends we loved, and the ones we’re ready to leave in 2024.
Let’s take a walk down memory lane.
While it’s impossible to predict what songs, sounds, dances, or challenges will trend, it’s easy to see what they have in common in retrospect. 2024’s greatest memes were adaptable and easily accessible — meaning everyone had a chance to participate.
1. The apple dance
The Apple dance was inspired by the song "Apple" from Charli XCX’s Brat album, and it's the standout viral trend from 2024. Created by TikToker Kelley Heyer, the simple but playful choreography to Charli XCX’s lyrics "I think the apple’s rotten right to the core" was copied by thousands of people. The singer herself joined the trend on TikTok, helping the dance spread and garnering over 51 million views in the process.
Apple dance - 2024 social media memeImage source
The trending sound has inspired 1.7 million TikTok videos with celebrities like the Twisters cast and Joey King posting their versions. It hit another wave of popularity on Instagram, where accounts like the USA’s Olympic Women's Rugby Team joined in.
Takeaway: This trend took off because of its low barrier to entry — no amazing dance skills were needed to join the craze. Trends like this are perfect for plugging your brand into internet culture.
2. The hilarious fallout of Universal Music Group removing their music from TikTok
When Universal Music Group (UMG) pulled their music from TikTok due to a licensing change at the beginning of 2024, people worried the app would change forever. But TikTokers — always the resourceful bunch — turned this upset on its head by pivoting to unlikely creative sources. They created dances and fan-edits to royalty-free music. Others sang DIY covers to mainstream songs. Some made lists of their favorite songs — without sound.
