TikTok is the new battleground in the war over tipping culture

TikTok has become the new battleground in the war over tipping culture. The video-sharing platform has given rise to a genre of satirical skits that poke fun at the growing prevalence of tipping culture, with users posting clips that mock the practice of leaving a tip after asking for help locating an item in a store or petting a stranger’s dog.

However, it’s not just parody. Giving your two cents on tipping culture seems to be a straight-shot to online virality. No surprise, then, that a small army of TikTok users have taken to the platform to rant about a tipping culture that they feel has gone wild. Customer service professionals are also posting videos encouraging people to tip more generously.

Accounts like Subway Takes specialize in scathing critiques of tipping culture. One of its most popular videos, which proclaims that “if I have to go up to order, I’m not tipping,” has racked up 17.9 million views. Another viral tirade, from user @xo.jessyy, says it’s “not my fault that you don’t get paid enough.”

Service workers have created their own TikTok genre in response, making a case for tipping. Server @natalinahughbanks tells viewers that “If you can’t afford to tip your server, you shouldn’t be going out to eat.” Another server, @kielekassidy, went viral for calling out customers’ low tips.

Outside of these first-person narratives, there’s also a depth of skits commenting on the prevalence of tips. These skits can take both sides of the debate. Drew Talbert created a video humorously explaining how servers live off of tips. That clip is now at 1.9 million views.

And then there are the offshoots. There are TikToks on everything from tipping “tricks,” like leaving dollars on the table and taking bills away each time a server makes a mistake; to the joys of bringing the tipping iPad to other venues, like a friend’s house.

The mechanisms of engagement are key to TikTok virality. Creators need their content to be viewed, liked, commented on, and shared with friends. This creates wide “discourse” bubbles on the platform; the hot topic sparks engagement, which pushes it to more viewers, which inevitably leads to more filmed content. A controversial debate begets its own virality.

This is what happened with tipping culture. What was once a conversation to be debated at dinner parties and be pondered in think pieces has grown into a social phenomenon. The comment sections are filled with fury.

In conclusion, TikTok has become the new battleground in the war over tipping culture. The platform has given rise to a genre of satirical skits that poke fun at the growing prevalence of tipping culture, while also providing a space for service workers to make a case for tipping and for customers to share their thoughts on the matter. The mechanisms of engagement on TikTok have made the topic go viral, creating a social phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down.