TikTok went through many eras in 2023. Creators embraced their "girlhood," starred in their very own Wes Anderson films, and discussed the Roman Empire ad nauseam. But no matter the era, a select few creators kept us coming back for more bits, tunes, and words of wisdom.
In a time-honored tradition, these are the creators that delighted us this year from the obvious stand-outs to the more niche personalities that held our attention across overcrowded FYPs.
@francescascorsese
2023 was the year of Scorsese, in more ways than one. In theaters, director Martin Scorsese delivered the masterful historical epic Killers of the Flower Moon, which Mashable named one of the best films of the year. Meanwhile, on the internet, his daughter and actor Francesca Scorsese delighted us with TikToks that gave us a peek into life with one of the world's greatest living filmmakers. Classics include Francesca explaining modern-day slang to Martin with the help of film-centric prompts — "Lily Gladstone ate in Killers of the Flower Moon" — or the two dancing to Coi Leray's "TWINNEM." You can also feast your eyes on the pair taking on a best movie bracket (featuring a Twilight cameo) or my personal favorite, "The Muse," which sees Martin auditioning family dog Oscar for a very important role. Cross-generational cinema at its sweetest! — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
@ghoulcabin
Oh, Rob. Where to begin? In an internet world filled with both established and burgeoning Irish icons, sad-looking boys running amok of FYPs, and self-deprecating comedians gathering views for their witty takes on humanity, Rob checks all the boxes. And then he folds up the paper, gives it a little peck, and offers you a bag of crisps or a cup of virtual tea that you can't partake in but really, really want to. Also known by his username @GhoulCabin, Rob is simply a lad making silly little videos from his bed. He is always drinking a hot beverage, or sending his viewers to Beautiful People Prison, or informing us of the poetic grace of his haters. A soft spoken Irishman with a heart of gold wearing jeans and a fleece, he's got the looks of Joan of Arc and Princess Diana, and he never fails to make me giggle. — Chase DiBenedetto, Social Good Reporter
@jensenmcrae
Many singer-songwriters take to TikTok to post their rough drafts, but few are as aptly confessional and emotionally resonant as Jensen McRae.
You might remember her viral tweet in 2021: "in 2023 Phoebe Bridgers is gonna drop her third album & the opening track will be about hooking up in the car while waiting in line to get vaccinated at dodger stadium and it’s gonna make me cry." She followed up with a song written in the style of Bridgers and released her haunting 2022 debut album Are You Happy Now?
On TikTok, McRae posts songs she just wrote and the runaway favorite of the year, "untitled massachusetts song," reflects on the impact of her relationship with a Christian-Bale-Batman-loving Massachusetts boy. She's also importantly fluent in One Direction and Twilight memes and loves The Idiot by Elif Batuman, a woman after my own heart! — Elena Cavender, Culture Reporter
@lockedgroove
As a personal music discovery platform, TikTok usually offers me more misses than it does hits — not to mention my overall distaste for the app's effect on the music industry as a whole. But my FYP does bestow upon me one bright star among the viral clips and bad lip-syncers, and that's Bryce, also known as @LockedGroove. I can literally always count on Bryce to suggest out-of-the-box, mind-breaking, or just all-around-robust music, based on her shockingly extensive vinyl collection. Scroll her page and find gorgeous album covers, rare boxsets, and thoughtful reviews of new indie music. Or peruse some of her varied recommendations, like these truly diverse picks in her roundup of 10/10 albums, off-the-beaten path '90s hits, and curations of LGBTQ artists. Not into music? Weird! But you can still listen to her ASMR-like calming narration, and maybe it'll stir in you a passion for music like it does for her thousands of followers. — C.D.
@acnugs
Girlies have been gatherers since the dawn of time. But Avery-Claire Nugent gave this ancient practice a fresh rebrand for the TikTok era by introducing us to the concept of clustering. Basically, Girls Who Cluster place trinket dishes full of beautiful things and dainty everyday essentials around their living spaces. They put candlesticks on top of stacks of magazines — a chic fire hazard — next to a vintage ashtray full of curated matchbooks. They collect their photostrips and mini polaroids in a ceramic bowl on their nightstand, and assemble an assortment of satin hairbows and perfumes next to the important things like their birth control and home keys. Girls Who Cluster surround themselves with the things they love — tchotchkes, mementos, photos, jewelry, books, and anything and everything that makes them happy, which is exactly why Nugent’s clusterful content has brought me so much joy this year. — Crystal Bell, Culture Editor
@meatdad
I do not have a kid, but in 2023 I really leaned into my Dad Interests. World War II books? You bet your ass. Jimmy Buffett tunes? Oh hell yeah, brother. So it should come as no surprise that a TikTokker who got me through the year goes by @MeatDad.
And he posts exactly what you might expect: TikToks about meat. As a longtime butcher, he’s carved out a niche by teaching folks how to save money and reduce waste. A typical TikTok from Meat Dad involves some light profanity and a detailed explanation on how to save money, usually by breaking down a big hunk of meat that you find on sale. And, not to get too preachy, but if you’re going to be a meat-eater, then the least you can do is to not be wasteful about it.
Other TikTokkers might’ve made me laugh more in 2023, but damn if I haven’t used Meat Dad’s advice. He taught me, for instance, that a chuck eye roast tastes about the same as a ribeye for a fraction of the cost. EXCITING, RIGHT?
OK, so Meat Dad isn’t exactly a sexy pick for a favorite TikTokker, but I’m a dude who likes to cook and can’t resist a deal. His account was tailor-made for my interests. Sometimes you just need to stop worrying and love the fact you’ve become a childless Dad. — Tim Marcin, Culture Reporter
@c.a.i.t.l.y.n
Some may dismiss TikTok as "the dancing app" or assume its trends are all in jest, but Caitlyn does neither. She offers her followers (and whoever else stumbles across one of her thoughtful videos) rigorous analysis of cultural moments. She meets young people where they are and connects hot topics to larger themes, breaking down theory for a wider audience. She's explained everything from what the manosphere gets wrong about American Psycho to democratic socialism. Most recently she unpacked the bow craze as a culmination of 2023's the infantilization of women through memes. Trust me, you'll want her on take on whatever trends flood our feeds in 2024. — E.C.
@tonystatovci
Despite having over 3.9 million followers on TikTok, Tony Statovci still feels like an underrated creator in the space. It’s been amazing seeing his rise on the app from doing skits in his bedroom to collaborations with RDCWorld1 and Shaquille O'Neal. His style of hyperbolic, literalist comedy never fails to make me laugh, and it also helps that he’s just as big of a weeb as me. It's also nice to see him branch out more as a content creator with his streams on Twitch. On top of that, and more importantly, this man's lush curls are enough to make anyone jealous. And for that reason alone, Tony is one of my favorite TikTokkers of 2023. Here’s hoping for another 3 million followers in 2024 because he deserves it. — Chance Townsend, Assistant Editor
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