#180 Who's Going?

TikTok functions as a hub for discovering trends and events, much like showing up to school and catching up with friends. Users' For You pages serve as personalized feeds that reflect current conversations and popular topics. In this episode of Reply All, Alex Goldman shares how he came across a local TikTok trend called "Adrianne's kickback" through his For You page. The trend started with a simple flyer on Snapchat, inviting people to a 17-year-old's birthday party at Huntington Beach. The flyer included the location, time, and date, along with the phrase "slide through this Saturday, we finna turn up," and the party anthem's audio. As more people created TikToks using the song, it became a viral sound associated with the event. This example demonstrates how TikTok's community-driven platform allows trends and events to spread quickly and organically.

The TikTok algorithm played a significant role in the viral spread of a high school student's birthday invite, turning it into a major online event. Adrian's birthday invite went viral on TikTok due to the catchy audio used in the videos sharing it. The invite was a real one, and through the power of social media, it reached thousands of people on TikTok and Snapchat. The hype around the event grew as influencers and popular TikTok creators started posting about it, implying they would attend. The event became a three-day affair, attracting people due to the idea of being part of something huge after a long period of isolation during the pandemic. The viral nature of TikTok allowed content to spread quickly and reach a large audience, making it easier for events to go bigger and faster than on other platforms.

The allure of a viral event on social media can be strong enough to inspire people to travel long distances, even after a prolonged period of social isolation due to a global pandemic. Andrew, a 19-year-old from Norwalk, California, was inspired by the buzz surrounding Adrian's Kickback on TikTok and decided to join the crowd at Huntington Beach, despite the long journey and the uncertainty of what to expect. For many attendees, including Andrew, it was their first real party experience since the COVID-19 lockdowns began in early 2020. The anticipation and excitement were palpable, with people traveling from all over to be a part of the scene. The event was expected to be a huge blowout with fireworks, drinks, and a large crowd. However, when Andrew arrived, he found a small group of people gathered, creating a calm before the storm atmosphere. Despite the initial disappointment, the experience of being a part of a viral event and connecting with others in person after such a long time was worth the journey for many attendees.

Even though the speaker missed out on important experiences during the COVID-19 shutdowns, the allure of social gatherings and the excitement they bring is a powerful draw. The speaker's description of cheer competitions highlights the rush of adrenaline and sense of accomplishment that comes from performing and winning. When the opportunity presented itself to attend a large gathering, the speaker and her friends were determined to make the most of it, despite the initial disappointment and awkwardness. Ultimately, the arrival of food and a larger crowd transformed the event into an unforgettable experience. However, the speaker acknowledges that attending such a large gathering during a pandemic came with risks, and she had taken precautions to minimize those risks.

The event at Adrian's kickback turned out to be a massive gathering with thousands of attendees, many coming from different states. The beach was overcrowded, and people were partying so intensely that the police were called in to disperse the crowd. Steezy, the speaker, was unable to find Adrian amidst the chaos and described the scene as chaotic, with people jumping on towers, blasting music, and setting off fireworks. The police attempted to shut down the party by shining their lights on the crowd, causing the partygoers to move location. Despite this, the party continued, with a moment of respite when everyone gathered in a circle for a dance. The event finally came to an end around 9 pm, and Steezy was able to locate his friends and go home. Steezy is a YouTube star who gained popularity through the platform.

Creating relatable and entertaining content can lead to significant success, as demonstrated by Steezy's prank videos and social media presence. Steezy started making prank videos during his senior year in school, which gained popularity through social media and meme pages, eventually leading to millions of views on YouTube. He also runs a clothing line promoting sober living and straight edge lifestyle. Steezy finds enjoyment in being around people who are drunk or stoned, as it brings out his own energy. During the pandemic, he attended a "kickback" at Huntington Beach, where he interacted with fans and jumped off a pier, reenacting his viral video. Despite the large crowd, they emphasized it was not a party to avoid irresponsibility during the pandemic. Steezy's unique content and authenticity have resonated with audiences, leading to his massive following and success.

Moments of fear and uncertainty can be overcome with the support and encouragement of friends. Jaden's experience of crowd surfing during a concert, despite initial anxiety, was made possible by the reassurance of her friends. However, the mood at Adrianne's kickback was overwhelming and chaotic, with people engaging in dangerous behaviors. Being stuck at home during COVID had taken away many anticipated experiences for Jaden, including cheer competitions and senior year events. Despite the initial hesitation, the lack of other plans led Jaden and her friends to attend the kickback, where they found themselves in an unsafe environment. Overall, Jaden's story highlights the importance of friendship and the power of overcoming fear, but also the potential dangers of large crowds and the consequences of reckless behavior.

A large crowd at Huntington Beach turned chaotic when someone threw a firework at a police officer, leading to widespread panic and destruction. People ran in all directions, causing traffic jams and breaking into stores. Fireworks continued to be set off, creating a dangerous situation as some mistook them for gunshots. The police responded with rubber bullets, adding to the fear. The situation was reminiscent of a scene from "The Purge." Many people got separated from their groups but managed to reunite by calling each other. The next day, the town looked like it had been hit by a hurricane due to the damage caused by the rampant vandalism and illegal use of fireworks. Over 25,000 people had attended, resulting in multiple business vandalizations and a lifeguard tower being damaged.

The internet can bring together diverse groups of people and create unique experiences. The discussion revolves around individuals who attended Adrian's kickback, an event that attracted a large and unknown crowd. The attendees described the event as fun, with moments of connection and shared experiences standing out. For some, the adrenaline rush from the chaotic situation was exhilarating, while others appreciated the normal conversations and interactions in the midst of the chaos. Regardless of personal preferences, the event left a lasting impression and became a shared story among attendees. Overall, the internet's ability to connect individuals and facilitate shared experiences, no matter how unconventional, is a powerful aspect of modern society.

The collaborative effort that goes into creating a podcast. Rick Kwan mixed the episode with fact-checking by Isabelle Christo. The music and sound design were created by Luke Williams and Tim Howard, with permission to use the song "Carolini" by Lynn Pesto. Additional music came from break master cylinder and Romano. The theme song for Adrian's kickback was "Yay Yay" by Compton Rocco. Special thanks this week went out to Rachel Strom, Nabil Cholampat, Gabriela Bugerelli, Dusk, and Chris Benagas, who shared footage from Friday night. You can find all of Chris's work on YouTube, and a link to his channel is included in the show notes. This episode is just one example of the many people and talents that come together to bring a podcast to life. We appreciate your support and look forward to bringing you another episode in a couple weeks.