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It’s no secret that TikTok has changed the way we consume content, but the extent to which it’s building fandom communities is nothing short of monumental.
With user-generated content at its core, the free online platform has given new life to longstanding franchises and programming (hello, Dancing With the Stars) and united global users through shared interests spanning fashion, fitness, television, gaming and so on. Through its nonstop format, quick content and cost-free nature, TikTok inherently makes media moments more accessible than ever before.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in Sept. 2025, Dancing With the Stars pro (and social media star) Rylee Arnold explained just how much — and precisely why — TikTok made an impact on the 34-season show.
“I think TikTok has become literally a part of Dancing with the Stars,” Arnold exclusively tells THR. “I think it’s a perfect way to showcase who these partnerships are, what our relationships are like, what this show is about and the BTS of it all. Because it’s hard to only see a show once a week and get engaged with it. But because we have TikTok, people are able to get into our life to see how it all goes down. And I think [TikTok is] such a cool way to share that.”
When Arnold first became a pro in 2023 for the show’s 32nd season, she remembers filming and posting the social media videos “just for fun.” Cut to two years later, every single season 34 pro is not only active, but massive, on TikTok, with millions of collective followers amongst them (and the official DWTS TikTok account boasting 5.4 million followers alone). Through both posting and commenting (crushing it, Mark Ballas), the celebrity dancers are able to interact with their fan bases in an entirely new way that’s more intimate than ever.
And while entertainment industry leaders may fear TikTok feeds taking eyes away from television screens, the “case study” of Dancing With the Stars is certainly proving otherwise. The TikTok fandom surrounding DWTS has only skyrocketed the show’s viewership — especially among adults ages 18 to 49 — with its Oct. 21 episode making TV ratings history.
So now, the question becomes: How will other programs leverage TikTok to their advantage?
