Inside TikTok's FYP Algorithm and the Power of Likes
TikTok's FYP algorithm runs continuous A/B tests. Your video is shown to a small batch of users first; if their like rate exceeds TikTok's threshold, it's shown to progressively larger batches until it reaches millions. Likes in the first minutes are decisive.
Free TikTok likes push your video past TikTok's initial quality gate — entering the viral loop that can turn a 200-view video into a 200,000-view phenomenon within 24 hours.