Circle Chain (TikTok)

About

Circle Chain refers to a series of memes and videos about getting, owning or showing off a circle chain, meaning a chain with a circular locket adorned with wings in which a photograph of a deceased loved one is placed. In memes, the meaning of the circle chain is often vaguely referred to. Some popular memes joke about having to kill a friend or loved one in order to fill your circle chain so you can properly show it off. The memes and skits were popularized on TikTok in August 2024.

Origin

On TikTok, "circle chain" is used to refer to a specific chain with a locket on it that's adorned with angel wings in which you are meant to place a photo of a dead loved one. As early as July 2024, TikTokers began posting more frequently about their circle chains.

For example, TikTokers^[1][2] @dtxdee392 and @teesnacks2 posted videos showing off their circle chains on July 6th, 2024, and August 8th, garnering over 1.1 million and 580,000 views, respectively, in roughly a month (shown below, left and right).

On August 15th, TikToker^[3] @kt.s58 posted a meme about sacrificing your daughter's life so you can get a photo to put in your circle chain, garnering over 622,000 views in four days (shown below). This is the earliest known example of a circle chain meme.

Spread

Memes and videos about circle chains became increasingly popularized throughout August 2024. On August 17th, 2024, TikToker^[4] @hoop.angel posted a video about killing a friend to get a circle chain, garnering over 850,000 views in two days (shown below, left). On the same day, TikToker^[5] @kwameloll posted a video jokingly weighing the pros and cons of killing a friend to get a circle chain, garnering over 300,000 views in two days (shown below, right).

On August 18th, 2024, TikToker^[6] @2008hondacivicc posted a video about receiving a circle chain with her face on it as a gift from a friend, implying that the friend is about to kill her, garnering over 260,000 views in a day (shown below).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References