TikTok is the new battleground in the war over tipping culture

The growing prevalence of tipping culture has proven a popular subject on TikTok. Users are posting satirical skits wherein people are encouraged to leave a tip after asking for help locating an item in a store or petting a stranger’s dog.

@mollyshen Tipping culture is getting outta control 🤡 #dogsoftiktok #shiba #shibainu #tipping #tippingculture #pettingyourdog #funny #humor #funnymoments #meme ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@mollyshen Tipping culture is getting outta control 🤡 #dogsoftiktok #shiba #shibainu #tipping #tippingculture #pettingyourdog #funny #humor #funnymoments #meme ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

Tipping culture is getting outta control 🤡 #dogsoftiktok #shiba #shibainu #tipping #tippingculture #pettingyourdog #funny #humor #funnymoments #meme

But 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, nor that customer service professionals are posting videos encouraging people to tip more generously.

On TikTok, tipping is hot-button

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.”

@xo.jessyy #tipping #tips #tip #tippingculture #foryou #stripper #bartender #bartendersoftiktok #service #serviceindustry #industry #fastfood #restaurant #karen #karensoftiktok #satire i tip GOOD service. ♬ original sound – Jessyyy 🦋

@xo.jessyy #tipping #tips #tip #tippingculture #foryou #stripper #bartender #bartendersoftiktok #service #serviceindustry #industry #fastfood #restaurant #karen #karensoftiktok #satire i tip GOOD service. ♬ original sound – Jessyyy 🦋

#tipping #tips #tip #tippingculture #foryou #stripper #bartender #bartendersoftiktok #service #serviceindustry #industry #fastfood #restaurant #karen #karensoftiktok #satire i tip GOOD service.

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.

@kielekassidy I am genuinely grateful for anything though! Im not saying it is expected, but I know the service i give is worth it! #tips#bartending#serving#servertok#tipservers#restaurantlife#CapCut#servertiktok ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish

@kielekassidy I am genuinely grateful for anything though! Im not saying it is expected, but I know the service i give is worth it! #tips#bartending#serving#servertok#tipservers#restaurantlife#CapCut#servertiktok ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish

I am genuinely grateful for anything though! Im not saying it is expected, but I know the service i give is worth it! #tips#bartending#serving#servertok#tipservers#restaurantlife#CapCut#servertiktok

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

Engagement is the key to TikTok virality. Not only do creators need their content to be viewed; they need it to be 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.