About

You Need to Nerd Out is a trend in which participants promote the idea of "nerding out" by showing a collage or compilation of the things that they are nerds for, including specific movies, shows, video games, hobbies and more. The trend was popularized on TikTok in late July 2025. Most examples of the trend use an audio that begins with YouTuber the zurkie show saying, "You need to nerd out," before transitioning to the song "Punkrocker" by Teddybears. As the trend spread, some versions on sites like X / Twitter and Instagram detached it from the audio.

Origin

On March 23rd, 2025, YouTuber^[1] the zurkie show posted a video titled "stop being nonchalant with yourself" in which he encourages people to "nerd out" and be proud of their interests. The video gained over 11,100 views in five months. Around the 00:41 mark, he holds up a sign that reads "You need to nerd out."

On July 18th, TikToker^[2] @taymzvsp posted a video that begins with the clip of zurkie holding up the sign and saying, "You need to nerd out," followed by the song "Punkrockers" by Teddybears over a compilation of clips from a variety of movies, TV shows and video games, garnering over 2.8 million views in a month.

Spread

The trend continued to spread over the following weeks. On July 20th, 2025, TikToker^[3] @mvsptn posted a similar edit that gained over 5.8 million views in two weeks.

As the trend evolved, people began posting selfies or videos of themselves with the things they "nerd out" over shown around their bodies, or by more directly showing themselves nerding out.

For example, on July 23rd, TikToker^[4] @bryahnabailey posted a version of the meme that gained over 2.7 million views in two weeks.

On July 27th, 2025, X^[5] user @nadoot__ posted two images of herself participating in the trend, garnering over 3,900 likes in a week.

On August 1st, TikToker^[6] @altheajolie posted a video parodying the trend, garnering over 1.1 million views in three days.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References