The TikTok Tango: When You’re Over 40 and Still Trying to Go Viral

Listen, I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, the youth took over the internet and left the rest of us sitting here, scrolling through TikTok videos like we’ve just stumbled into a foreign country without a passport or Google Translate. TikTok trends are wild—one minute it’s all about people dancing in their kitchens to songs you’ve never heard of, and the next, everyone is aggressively whipping together feta pasta like their lives depend on it.

If you’re over 40 and you’ve ever tried to “get in on” one of these trends, first of all: congratulations on your bravery. Second, let’s take a moment to laugh (and cry) about the struggles of trying to keep up with the youth. Spoiler alert: we’re not doing great, but at least we’re entertained.

Chapter 1: The Dance Trends – Because Apparently, We All Signed Up for ‘Dancing with the Stars’

TikTok is like the universe’s audition reel for a future we never asked for: where everyone is a backup dancer in Beyoncé’s world tour. There’s nothing quite like scrolling through video after video of people absolutely crushing intricate choreography and thinking, “Yeah, I could totally do that.”

Spoiler: No, you cannot.

There’s something uniquely tragic about seeing a viral dance trend, attempting it in your living room, and realizing within the first three seconds that your hips have absolutely no idea what they’re doing. And don’t even get me started on the hand movements. Are we casting spells? Trying to send a semaphore message? Someone explain it to me, because I’m over here looking like a malfunctioning robot while 15-year-olds are executing it flawlessly in under 60 seconds.

Chapter 2: The DIY Trends – Where Reality and Pinterest Fails Meet

One of my personal favorites (aka worst nightmares) are the DIY trends. Whether it’s making whipped coffee, tie-dying everything you own, or attempting that oddly specific “mirror photo shoot” (you know the one), TikTok has become a breeding ground for DIY projects that inevitably end in disaster for anyone over the age of 25.

For example, remember that whipped coffee trend? Everyone on TikTok made it look so effortless. Meanwhile, I spent 20 minutes whisking instant coffee like a maniac, only to produce something that looked like brown sludge instead of the creamy, cloud-like coffee perfection everyone else seemed to achieve.

Or how about the mirror photo shoots? Because yeah, let me just drag a mirror into my backyard, balance it against a tree, and contort my body into a graceful shape while somehow avoiding a photo of my double chin and the reflection of my neighbor mowing their lawn in the background. Nailed it. Totally viral-worthy. (Sarcasm intended.)

Chapter 3: The Slang – Understanding It Is Half the Battle

Now, I like to think of myself as somewhat in touch with the world, but TikTok slang? That’s a whole new ballgame. The first time I heard someone use the term “cheugy,” I thought they were referring to a type of dessert. Turns out, it’s an insult (yay for us Gen X’ers!). And don’t even get me started on terms like “simp,” “bussin’,” or “no cap.”

I’ve spent more time on Urban Dictionary in the past year than I care to admit, all because I’m trying to decipher what the heck people are saying. Meanwhile, teenagers are out here casually throwing around terms that make me feel like I need to enroll in a high school language classes. No cap, it’s exhausting.

Chapter 4: The Challenges – Why Do We Do This to Ourselves?

The TikTok challenges are what really separate the youths from the “youth-adjacents” (read: us). There’s nothing quite like watching a viral challenge—like the Savage Love dance, the Flip the Switch challenge, or that thing where people pretend to disappear behind a blanket—and thinking, “I can do that.” Famous last words.

Here’s what really happens when you try a TikTok challenge after 40: You either pull a muscle you didn’t know you had, or you get halfway through and realize that it’s WAY more work than anticipated. Or worse, you finally manage to get it right, you hit “record,” and you spend the next 30 minutes editing the video because no one needs to see that accidental foot cramp or your cat photobombing in the background.

And let’s not even get into the lip-sync challenges. There’s nothing more humbling than realizing you cannot, in fact, lip-sync to any song convincingly. Every time I attempt one, I look like I’m trying to recite the Pledge of Allegiance underwater.

Chapter 5: The “For You” Page – Where Dreams Go to Die

Ah, the For You page—TikTok’s gift to you that’s carefully curated based on your browsing habits. Except instead of feeling like a gift, it’s more like a brutal reminder of how out of touch you are. It’s a combination of 19-year-olds giving skincare advice that involves ingredients you’ve never heard of, people making videos about how to make $10K a month doing… well, something vague, and influencers with perfectly aesthetic lives who wake up at 5 a.m. to meditate and drink green juice.

Meanwhile, I’m over here at 7:30 a.m. chugging Red Bull like it’s medicine and trying to remember if I put my pants on inside-out.

But, of course, you keep scrolling. Why? Because you’re addicted. The For You page is a black hole, and once you’re sucked in, you’re trapped for hours. Next thing you know, it’s 2 a.m., you’re six “rabbit holes” deep into conspiracy TikTok, and you have no idea what just happened.

Chapter 6: The Pressure to Go Viral – When Likes Become Your Life Force

Let’s be honest, we all secretly want to go viral on TikTok. We want that one video that blows up, gets a million views, and suddenly makes us internet famous. So, we post a video, nervously check back every 15 minutes, and…crickets. TikTok fame isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t stop us from trying.

It’s the cycle of desperation: “Maybe I’ll get more likes if I try that funny sound everyone’s using. Or should I jump on the latest duet trend? What if I do a dance in my kitchen while cooking dinner? Will that make me famous?!”

You know what you end up with instead? A shaky video, 12 likes from your friends who feel bad for you, and an overwhelming desire to delete the app and throw your phone into the ocean.

Chapter 7: The Hidden Truth – We’re All Just Here for the Laughs

At the end of the day, trying to keep up with TikTok trends isn’t about going viral or mastering the perfect dance routine. It’s about laughing at ourselves, embracing the chaos, and realizing that no one really knows what they’re doing—whether you’re 16 or 36. Sure, maybe we’ll never understand why “dabbing” was a thing or why people are suddenly obsessed with dressing like it’s 1997 again, but hey, at least we’re entertained.

So, if you’re out there, over 40, struggling to keep up with TikTok like it’s your part-time job—just know, you’re not alone. We may not be going viral, but we’re definitely going down in history as the generation that tried way too hard.

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