Stickman IRL TikTok Trend

About

Stickman IRL TikTok Trend or Stick Figure IRL refers to a trend where TikTokers upload videos consisting of a series of photoshops, often from around their school, where a stickman is placed into comedic situations and his actions are described through Snapchat text captions. The trend began in October 2021. Many videos depict the stickman getting into trouble or being bullied and pulling out a gun in class.

Origin

On October 22nd, 2021, TikToker^[1] @0iwasbored0 posted a video showing a photoshopped image of a stickman sitting in an IRL school desk with the Snapchat caption "bro ugly," as if bullying him. The next photo shows the stickman looking at the camera as if he heard him, then an image of the stickman angry and finally the stickman digging through his bag and pulling out a gun along with the caption "oh shit he pulled out the glizzy." The video gained over 2.3 million views in just over a week (shown below).

The TikToker uploaded two other videos in the same style that day, gaining over 51,000 and 14,000 views respectively in the same span of time (shown below, left and right). They have continued to upload videos in this style.

Spread

The trend spread on TikTok over the course of October, most videos set to the Original Sound^[2] "spookyli whippin forgies – weegee." For example, on October 27th, TikToker^[3] @freetwonnn posted a video similar to the original of a stickman pulling out a gun in class, gaining over 4.7 million views in five days (shown below, left). On the same day the TikToker uploaded a sequel where a stickman chases them home, gaining over 72,000 views in the same span of time (shown below, right).

On October 29th, TikToker^[4] @gracewindon posted a video where a stickman pulls a gun in class and the teacher punches them out, gaining over 5.5 million views in three days (shown below).

On October 30th, TikToker @8.foot.energey posted a wholesome version of the meme where a stick figure pulls out food to share with the person taking photos, gaining over 8.5 million views in two days (shown below, left). On the same day, TIkToker @kuhh_ posted a version of the video where a stickman climbs into a bathroom stall to harass someone then gets into a fight, gaining over 144,000 views in two days (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References