What if the secret to Netflix’s biggest hits is not on your TV screen, but in your hands and the device you are scrolling? As millions scroll through TikTok, seemingly random clips turn shows into global sensations overnight, Netflix rolls out new features to mimic this viral magic, and the question arises: Does TikTok deserve the real credit for these streaming sensations?

Before exploring how TikTok’s viral power has shaped Netflix’s biggest successes, it is important to understand how this first came to light.

The first news media outlet to spotlight TikTok’s influence on Netflix’s breakout successes was What’s on Netflix. It revealed that titles such as Squid Game, Straw, and Baby Reindeer owe much of their meteoric rise to TikTok’s viral trends. Instead of relying solely on traditional advertising, these shows found new life through user-generated content, memes, and challenges that rapidly spread across the platform.

A closer look at Squid Game illustrates this phenomenon. The series initially had a modest start in Netflix’s Top 10, but after scenes like the Red Light Green Light game exploded on TikTok, viewership flew in the following weeks. This pattern repeated with Adolescence and Baby Reindeer, both of which saw significant audience jumps after their most shareable moments became TikTok sensations.

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As Netflix observes these trends, it is clear the company is not content to simply watch from the sidelines.

The impact of TikTok is not limited to just new releases. Older series such as The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window and Ginny & Georgia have re-emerged in Netflix’s charts after memorable clips resurfaced on TikTok. Even global hits like Wednesday, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton have stayed in the spotlight thanks to viral dances, music edits, and memes that keep audiences engaged long after their premieres.

Recognizing this trend, Netflix has begun experimenting with its own TikTok-inspired vertical video feed, aiming to capture some of the viral magic. However, without social features like likes and shares, Netflix’s attempt may struggle to match the engagement and cultural momentum that TikTok’s algorithm generates so effortlessly. The streaming giant now finds itself both competing with and learning from the platform that has become the real tastemaker for what the world watches next.

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