The TikToks That Got Us Through 2022

There’s something about this couple (and their extended universe of friends) that just sparks joy. Dakota and Jackson mostly use their TikTok account to post videos of what they order from various fast food joints and restaurants, and while that might sound boring, it’s their upbeat, often humorous delivery that makes these so fun to watch. (“I love upscale hospital food,” Dakota tells us at the beginning of a trip to Panera Bread.) It’s cute to see a fun couple and their friends living their best life at Sonic or Cheesecake Factory — if that’s not thriving, what is? — Tyler Trykowski

Hauntingly Silent TikTok Dances

Comedian Nathan Fielder memorably described TikTok as a “children’s dancing app,” which is why I’m not on it. Besides rapidly aging out of the target demographic, I find myself bored by the ubiquitous dance videos. Don’t get me wrong, it certainly seems fun to choreograph a routine with your friends, but the filmed results aren’t always captivating. This TikTok from user @PresCEO — which I fittingly found on Twitter, the app for brain-poisoned Millennials — captures my exhaustion with a million same-y dance routines. Inserting himself into several workplaces where employees have filmed TikTok dances, PresCEO stands there, exhausted, waiting to be helped. But what really sends this one over the top is the Foley work. Stripped of music, all we hear is the squeaking of sneakers. — Samantha Allen

The Struggle of Not Saying “Slay”

I’m physically incapable of not saying “slay” approximately every five seconds, regardless of whether or not it’s a contextually appropriate response. So naturally, when both Them’s lovely senior news editor and our PR girlie saw this TikTok, they both thought, “This embodies James.” It’s six seconds of sheer perfection: a blurry video of an indeterminate, vaguely humanoid form thrashing as if possessed by a demon while the opening to “Ave Maria” plays in the background. As someone whose primary coping mechanism is humor, this TikTok is a perfect encapsulation of my inner state 99% of the time. And honestly? That’s a slay. — James Factora

Marbles Playing Sports

Comedian Dylan McKeever’s absurdist take on the trans sports “debate” is exactly what I needed after years of legislation, misinformation, and bigotry targeting kids who just want to run cross country and play basketball. “Only marbles get to play sports,” McKeever declares, hilariously citing “biology,” and then she shows us exactly what a world with tiny spherical athletes might look like. I have seen our glassy future and it is beautiful. — Samantha Allen

Coming Out to Your Gen Z Mom as Straight

Nothing could be more horrifying. It’s videos like these that make me believe the children are our future. — Tyler Trykowski

Mother Moon Songs

If your heart is encased in a hardened shell of irony poison, scroll right past this video because we’re gonna use the phrase “inner child” in this one. If you’re still here, allow me to introduce you to Mother Moon, who writes children’s songs that teach body neutrality and healthy communication, a.k.a. things that we usually have to painstakingly teach ourselves in adulthood. And yes, again, I recognize that these are children’s songs but, judging from the comments, I’m certainly not the only one whose inner child feels nurtured. — James Factora

“This Is For the LGBT Community”

Finally, thank you to Neil Shibata for this new mantra as I walk into work every day here at Them dot us. — Sarah Burke

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