Dance challenges. Lip-syncing. Fashion and makeup tips. Cooking demonstrations.
Many types of TikTok videos are immensely popular on the social media platform, but it requires at least a small amount of expertise or talent (or at least, that’s what lots of TikTok users think) to join in. Sure, you can record yourself trying the latest dance trend, but you might end up attracting negative attention that you really weren’t looking for.
Fledgling TikTok content creators hunting for ideas for their new videos often wind up producing tutorials on subjects they’re knowledgeable about.
And that explains how the “chopstick trend” developed on TikTok.
What’s With All of the “How to Hold Chopsticks” TikTok Posts?
TikTok has more than two billion users across the globe. For most users in East Asia, using chopsticks is second nature; it’s how they learned to eat.
There are lots more people with TikTok accounts in other parts of the world, though, and many are flummoxed if they visit an Asian restaurant and are handed a pair of chopsticks. What do they do? Do they pretend to know what they’re doing and look foolish? Or do they ask for a fork and feel embarrassed?
If only they could easily learn the proper technique in private!
They can, on TikTok. And for those conversant with the skill, it’s an easy topic to focus on when creating TikTok content. A simple-to-understand, 30- or 60-second tutorial on chopstick use can be recorded by virtually any user who already knows how to wield the utensils, and the platform’s editor lets creators slow down, speed up, or zoom in on the critical details.
That’s how it all started, but it’s not why “How to hold chopsticks” became a topic that trends on TikTok year after year. Many creators realized that there were all sorts of humorous touches and twists they could put on their videos: the traditional way, the modern way, the wrong way, and perhaps most importantly, the bizarre ways that novices try to use their chopsticks.
Viewers were captivated by both the informative and funny chopstick videos that followed. Since it’s such an easy topic to create content around (at least, for those who know how to use chopsticks), some of these TikTok posts have racked up millions of views — and the trend shows no sign of slowing down.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.