TikTok’s algorithm fueled massive music trends. Standardized dance challenges to tracks like Megan Thee Stallion’s "Savage" and Doja Cat’s "Say So" provided a creative outlet for students trapped in small dorms or childhood bedrooms. The era also saw the rise of collaborative content creation, where users utilized the "Duet" and "Stitch" features to build global, crowdsourced jokes and musical harmonies, such as the viral Sea Shanty craze. 2. Streaming Wars and Shared Cultural Moments

Nostalgia was a major coping mechanism. Students rewached comfort shows in record numbers, keeping The Office , Friends , New Girl , and Avatar: The Last Airbender at the top of trending lists.