TikTok trends: week of 18 May 2026

A viral trend where audiences at university commencement ceremonies loudly boo CEOs and guest speakers who praise AI or tell graduates that AI will replace their jobs.

Following the release of three new Drake albums, creators are using his songs—specifically 'Classic,' 'Janice STFU,' and 'WNBA'—as background audio for lifestyle content, reels, and edits.

An aesthetic trend where creators showcase their work and behind-the-scenes moments using quick clips of themselves working, editing, or creating content with the text 'Cool girls have cool jobs' on screen.

A relatable trend where creators show that clients think they are only being nice because it's their job, but then cut to clips showing they genuinely care about their clients as people.

A chaotic, fast-paced trend where creators tell viewers not to watch the video in 2x speed, followed by a super fast 0.1-second clip, claiming the reel gives 10 views per second.