The Continued Rise Of The TikTok Screenshot

No matter how impactful it remains, there are still parts of the internet refusing to be convinced by TikTok. Heralding a new generation of social media was always going to be alienating for some, and its associations with shiny, brand-and-preteen-friendly content produce the wrong kind of cringe for many dank meme gatekeepers.

Despite this animosity, certain groups are starting to build bridges — and the peace process is not a complex one. Not only are TikTok screenshots are becoming increasingly common content on other platforms, but they are also fast becoming a genre in their own right.

While the format may be a blunt instrument, it also appears to be an effective one. Just as other forms of the image-based meme have been dominated by tools like MS Paint and meme generators, these crude methods make it accessible and effective. Aided by TikTok’s near-ubiquitous subtitling and a trend for text-focused content, the result is a recipe made for stealing.

Once the content has been repurposed, a large factor in how it will be used is how skeptical its new audience is expected to be. Unsurprisingly, this means many of the screenshots that find success on other platforms are heavy on the cringe factor. This type is focused on those with an apparent lack of self-awareness, whether that be misguided attempts at identity politics, deluded hustle culture devotees or bringing attention to strange hobbies, like the attention that has surrounded Reality Shifting. Gimmick account Gen Z Moments specializes in this category, capitalizing on the platform’s strong link to the generational stereotype.

However, not all screenshots are created with a mocking intent. At the other end of the spectrum, there are those that succeed through being highly referential. Naturally, these appeal the most to those with sympathy towards the platform and they usually take a wry, sometimes self-deprecating tone. Those that fall under this definition are also the most text-heavy, frequently using multiple cultural touchpoints to get their point across. Gaining the most recognition on Instagram and Twitter, they are essentially "relatable memes" for pretentious people. With their ironic slant, they offer a parallel to the ongoing trend for meme accounts that make their own Whispers.

Finally, some of these images simply become popular because they provide general viral interest by sparking arguments or being easy to manipulate and reuse. Again, these types have more impact with TikTok enjoyers, but their random nature gives them an edge with diehard haters as well. Often, this comes in the form of a one-off, like the basic mathematical division that recently terrorized the internet. Other times, it develops into a full-fledged meme. The Trade Offer format has been one of the most successful screenshots from the platform, becoming a replicable meme that made a mark on even those who can be fiercely anti-Tiktok, like many Redditors.

Although this format is one of the more noticeable current trends in text-heavy memes, they do not exist in a vacuum. In fact, they build on a history of doing the same thing with many other forms of social media. Twitter is arguably the most prolific of these, due to its comparatively smaller userbase yet high level of online influence. Facebook gets a look in too, especially for content that provides a more local mindset (think the origins of Eat Hot Chip And Lie). In terms of video, there is also the time-honored tradition of bizarre YouTube content being made into decontextualized still lifes.

Above all, though, TikTok screenshots owe their popularity to the precedent set by Snapchat. Operating on a similar cringe-to-user humor ratio, Snapchat screenshotting maintained its formidable influence at its mid-2010s peak. The main contrast is that this has served a practical purpose, giving the fleeting nature of the app a bit more permanence. With TikTok, the aim is either to improve its palatability or decrease the amount of effort it takes to spread its message. The latter is especially true of somewhere like Instagram. While its content is popular there, it is more labor-intensive to upload as a video and less likely to make an impact when made into a Reel.

Looking forward, screenshotting will likely remain an integral part of TikTok’s influence on other major platforms. They draw in a wider audience and offer them even better memeable potential than can be achieved on the app alone. The traditional image macro is not stepping down from the throne any time soon, but it must share the wealth more than ever before. The attention economy is always looking for new ways to grow, and this is a promising addition to its toolbox.

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