Back in the early 2000’s, car culture lived in parking lots, garages, and weekend meets. If you wanted to see cool builds, you had to show up in person. But today, the heart of car culture is on Instagram, TikTok, and you tube. Social media has completely transformed how car enthusiasts connect, show off, and even build their cars.

Platforms like Instagram turned cars into digital art. people don’t just post pictures of their builds, they share the whole process, from the first day they bought a rusty project to the final polished reveal. Clean edits, cinematic reels, and popular sounds made it possible for anyone to show off their passion, not just professionals.

You tube created a new kind of car celebrity. Builders like Tay wavy, Adam Lz, and Toms reburds made it normal to watch someone else’s car journey like a TV show. Viewers learn, laugh, and sometimes even buy parts based on what their favorite youtuber uses.

Then Came TikTok, which made car content go viral faster than ever. A quick clip of a static stanced car or a turbo flutter can get millions of views overnight. Its less about perfect builds and more about quick entertainment and clips that make people stop scrolling for a few seconds.

A good example of how social media changed the car world is what happened at Slammedenuff Gatlinburg 2025. What was supposed to be a fun car show turned chaotic. Burnouts, reckless driving, and massive crowds filled gas stations all around Gatlinburg. Police eventually had to shut down the event early because of the danger and complaints.
A lot of people who went there just to enjoy the cars were very frustrated. they said it wasnt the real car community acting up – it was the few who wanted to go viral. I think the main reason this happened is because of social media and everyone trying to get a clip. People aren’t just showing up for the builds anymore – they’re showing up for the content. When every rev, burnout, and takeover is being filmed for likes, things get out of control fast. Social media made car culture bigger than ever, but it also made it harder to control. One viral moment can ruin an entire event – and that’s exactly what happened that night.