Latest TikTok Algorithm Update 2025 and How to Make Your Video Trend

HT Vũ Ngọc 30 Mar, 2025 Tiktok Marketing

Are you looking to take TikTok seriously, rather than just posting for fun? If so, you need to understand how the platform distributes content. In this article, we’ll explore the TikTok algorithm to help you grasp how the system works, ensuring your TikTok channel reaches the right audience and grows sustainably!

How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work?

The TikTok algorithm determines which videos appear on the “For You” page based on users’ personal preferences. These preferences are influenced by several factors, including:

Engagement: Likes, comments, shares
User Interests: Hashtags, sounds, etc.
User Retention Rate: How long viewers watch a video
Watch Time: Preference for short or long videos
Video Content
Age
Location
Other device settings

Understanding the algorithm helps your videos get recommended more quickly, allowing you to strategize your content and improve video quality.

How Does TikTok Distribute Content?

TikTok’s algorithm distributes content based on user experience. Let’s explore the steps TikTok follows to push your videos to viewers.

Step 1: Video Evaluation and Moderation

Before being published on the platform, every TikTok video undergoes an AI-powered content review process that analyzes natural language and computer vision.

The system examines the video’s content, audio, and context to determine whether it should be distributed to a relevant audience or removed for violating community guidelines.

Step 2: Scoring, Categorization, and Initial Distribution

Once the video is reviewed, TikTok distributes it to a small group of users and evaluates engagement. Different interactions carry different weight in the scoring system:

Replay Rate: 10 points
Completion Rate: 8 points
Shares: 6 points
Comments: 4 points
Likes: 2 points

Unlike Facebook, repeatedly replaying a TikTok video does not automatically make it go viral. The algorithm ranks engagement based on individual user actions to prevent artificial inflation, a problem Facebook has faced in the past.

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Step 3: The “Loop” Distribution System

Once your video scores well with the first small group, TikTok expands distribution to a larger audience (Group 2). This cycle continues, increasing the audience size with each round, until the content either goes viral or fails to meet TikTok’s engagement thresholds.

For example, if at Group 5, TikTok notices a decline in engagement, the algorithm will limit further reach unless new interactions occur.

Factors Influencing the TikTok Algorithm

With extensive experience on the platform, we have identified key factors that directly impact TikTok’s algorithm and can help increase your chances of making your videos trend. Let’s explore them now!

1. User Engagement

TikTok prioritizes user engagement, similar to Instagram. The platform evaluates how users interact with content based on the following data:

Videos the user likes.
Videos the user shares.
Accounts the user follows.
Content the user creates.
Comments the user posts.
Creators the user hides.
Videos reported as “Not Interested.”

TikTok leverages this data to optimize content recommendations. Additionally, TikTok prioritizes creators that users actively engage with, rather than simply following a large number of accounts without meaningful interaction. This highlights the importance of understanding your audience—a crucial factor in determining whether your content can go viral.

2. Video Information

For TikTok videos, several key details help the platform identify the topic and recommend content to the right audience:

Video Description (Caption): Includes TikTok keywords that help the algorithm understand the video’s content.
Hashtags: Used to categorize content and inform TikTok about the video’s theme.
Sounds: Includes sound effects and music tracks, allowing TikTok to detect trending audio and distribute content to a broader audience.

3. Device and Account Settings

Although account and device settings are less influential than engagement and content, TikTok still considers certain factors to enhance user experience:

Device type
Country settings
Preferred language

However, TikTok also limits the visibility of certain content to prevent users from repeatedly seeing similar videos or content they aren’t interested in. The algorithm reduces recommendations for the following types of videos:

Videos the user has already watched.
Spam content.
Duplicate videos.
Videos marked as “Not Interested.”
Content that violates TikTok’s community guidelines.

How to Get the TikTok Algorithm to Distribute Your Content to the Right Target Audience?

With multiple updates, TikTok’s 2025 algorithm has become more refined, prioritizing content distribution based on its relevance to individual users. Below are some key tips to help you optimize your content and reach the right audience:

1. Choose the Right Posting Frequency & Timing

A channel that posts consistently and at peak hours has a higher chance of being widely distributed. We recommend posting daily or at least 3-4 times per week, especially when your channel is still growing. Additionally, consider leveraging TikTok’s golden posting hours to maximize reach.

2. Optimize Captions and Hashtags for Your Topic

TikTok analyzes captions to determine a video’s topic and decide which audience it should be shown to. Therefore, including relevant keywords in your caption is crucial. Also, avoid using random viral hashtags and instead select hashtags that directly relate to your content.

For example, instead of using #viral #fyp generically, try #businessenglish #softskills if you’re sharing English learning tips for professionals. This helps TikTok identify the right audience for your video.

You can also explore TikTok Creative Center to find trending hashtags and keywords relevant to your niche.

3. Use Keywords & Phrases Your Target Audience Searches For

TikTok has a “search suggest” feature similar to Google. When you type a keyword (e.g., “learn English”) in the search bar, TikTok will suggest popular search phrases, such as:

Learn English for beginners
Fast-track English communication
Daily English learning

Including these keywords in captions, text overlays, or video scripts increases your chances of appearing in search results.

4. Reply to Comments with a Video

TikTok highly favors video replies to comments, especially when they come from your target audience.

For instance, if you’re running a personal finance channel and receive a comment like, “What should I invest in with a $500 monthly income?”, create a video response.

TikTok recognizes this as solution-based content, making it more likely to distribute your video to other users with similar interests (e.g., beginner investors with limited budgets).

5. Optimize Based on TikTok’s Distribution Mechanism

Here are a few other optimization techniques:

Keep content concise & engaging: While TikTok started as a short-video platform, longer videos have gained priority in recent years. Create engaging videos that go straight to the point without being too short or too long.
Use trending music: Leveraging popular sounds helps attract user attention and increases visibility.
Encourage engagement: Ask viewers to comment, share, or like your videos. Engagement signals boost distribution.
Pin answers in the comment section: Leaving answers or additional information in the comments encourages interaction.
Engage with comments: Replying to comments helps build a connection with your audience and boosts engagement metrics.

Common Mistakes When Trying to “Bypass” the TikTok Algorithm & How to Fix Them

Many users make seemingly harmless mistakes that actually reduce their video’s reach. Below are the most common ones and how to avoid them:

1. Prioritizing Quantity Over Quality

Some creators believe posting as many videos as possible increases their chances of going viral. However, TikTok doesn’t work this way. A well-planned video that hooks viewers within the first 3-5 seconds will always outperform hundreds of low-quality videos.

Solution: Instead of mass-producing content, focus on quality—from concept to editing. A video that retains over 75% of viewers has a much higher chance of being widely distributed.

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2. Reusing Content from Other Platforms

Many accounts recycle content from other platforms by removing logos, adding effects, or changing the audio.

However, TikTok’s algorithm can detect reused content, leading to reduced reach or no distribution at all.

Solution: If you want to repurpose an idea, create a fresh version. Record from a different angle, change the storytelling approach, or update the information. Never re-upload the same video with minor modifications.

3. Posting Policy-Violating Content or Redirecting Users Off TikTok

Videos that direct viewers to other platforms (e.g., “Watch the full video on YouTube” or “Click the link in bio”) often receive limited distribution. In severe cases, your account may face restrictions or even suspension.

Solution: If you need a Call-To-Action (CTA), make it subtle. Instead of saying “Click the link in bio”, try “Check out the details in my bio”. Also, always review your content for prohibited words or sensitive topics that may trigger content restrictions.

Important Notes:

New accounts don’t get strong distribution immediately—this is normal! In the first 1-2 months, actively engage with content (watch, like, comment) and post a few videos. This helps build trust with TikTok’s system.

If you purchase an old TikTok account, resetting the profile and deleting old content may temporarily limit its reach. Avoid low-quality or repetitive content to prevent further suppression. If your content lacks improvement, 80-90% of it may struggle to gain traction.

Final Thoughts

With this deep dive into the TikTok algorithm, we hope you now understand how TikTok identifies, evaluates, and distributes content. To succeed on TikTok, you need a combination of factors—creativity, high-quality content, audience engagement, and patience in growing your channel.

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