TikTok’s ‘Free Will’ Trend: Are We Really in Control?

Problem: The Rise of TikTok’s ‘Free Will’ Trend

The TikTok Free Will trend has taken over social media, with users making impulsive choices to prove they are in control of their actions. TikTok trends come and go faster than most people can keep up with, but some trends hit differently. One of the latest buzz-worthy movements? The ‘Free Will’ trend. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok recently, you’ve probably seen videos where users make impulsive, sometimes absurd, choices just to prove they have “free will.”

From suddenly shaving their heads to eating ice cream for breakfast, TikTokers are using this trend to challenge the idea of predictability in human behavior. The premise is simple: if our choices are influenced by past experiences, habits, and social norms, do we actually have free will? Or are we just following an invisible script?

But here’s the real question—are these users exercising free will, or are they just following another trend like everyone else?

Agitation: The Illusion of Choice?

The TikTok Free Will trend ironically raises a paradox: if millions of people are doing the same thing under the same hashtag, how much “free will” is really involved?

Let’s break it down with a little case study.

Case Study: The Ice Bucket Challenge vs. ‘Free Will

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? Back in 2014, millions of people willingly dumped ice-cold water on themselves to raise awareness for ALS. It was voluntary—yet peer pressure and social media influence played a massive role.

Fast forward to today, and the TikTok Free Will trend is operating in a similar way. Users claim they are making unpredictable choices, but if thousands of others are doing the same “random” acts, how spontaneous is it really?

Behavioral psychology suggests that people are highly influenced by their environment. Studies show that social validation—when people see others doing something—makes them more likely to do the same. It’s why viral trends spread so fast. We like to believe we’re in control, but often, our actions are shaped by what’s popular at the moment.

Take TikTok user @jenny_random, who posted a video of herself dyeing her hair neon green with the caption, “Because I have free will!” Within 24 hours, thousands of comments flooded in, many saying, “Now I feel like doing this too!” So, was it really free will, or just another case of social influence?

Solution: Understanding Real Free Will

So, if following the TikTok Free Will trend doesn’t count as true free will, what does?

1. Making Choices Without External Pressure – Free will means making decisions based on personal reasoning rather than outside influence. If you’re dyeing your hair green because you truly want to—not because you saw it on TikTok—that’s real autonomy.
   
2. Being Aware of Influences – Recognizing when you’re being influenced by social media is key. The more aware you are of how trends shape your decisions, the more control you actually have.
   
3. Taking Unpopular or Unpredictable Actions – If free will is about making unexpected choices, then going against the trend is a better example of it than following one. Instead of posting a video about doing something “random,” maybe choosing to not post at all is the true rebellious act.
   
4. Understanding the Power of Algorithms – TikTok’s algorithm is designed to keep you engaged by showing you content that aligns with your interests. If the TikTok Free Will trend is suddenly everywhere on your feed, it’s likely because the algorithm is reinforcing it—not because everyone suddenly had the same spontaneous thought.
   

Conclusion: Are We Really Free?

The TikTok Free Will trend is both entertaining and ironic. It highlights an interesting debate about human choice while simultaneously proving how easily influenced we are.

The next time you feel the urge to participate in a viral trend, pause and ask yourself: Am I doing this because I truly want to, or because it’s trending? Understanding that distinction might just be the first step toward real free will.

At the end of the day, maybe the most rebellious thing you can do is ignore the trend altogether. Now that would be unpredictable.