The TikTok algorithm in 2026: what actually drives reach
Watch time, rewatches and shares — a clear look at the signals that decide how far your TikTok travels, and how to earn them honestly.

TikTok researcher
Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs. Now mostly found digging through TikTok data, creator behavior, viral patterns, platform studies, and the strange little numbers that explain why people stop scrolling. I research how TikTok works beyond the trends: watch time, engagement signals, content discovery, audience habits, growth patterns, and the stats that make short-form video feel a little less random. Still a father, still a gamer, still writing words — just with a lot more spreadsheets, research papers, and questionable conclusions about why one video explodes while another dies quietly at 312 views.
Watch time, rewatches and shares — a clear look at the signals that decide how far your TikTok travels, and how to earn them honestly.