In this article, we’ll analyze two recent trends that are going viral in the short-form video space: Subtle Foreshadowing and Who Said That.
Implementing both trends can help you increase exposure while authentically connecting with your target audience. Remember, when people feel connected to you, they are more likely to engage with you and eventually buy from you.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Trend 1: Subtle Foreshadowing
Subtle foreshadowing, originally a literary concept in which writers and authors would subtly hint at upcoming events way before the story’s climax, has taken over social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
However, creators have replaced subtlety with blatancy and boldness.
The point of the trend is to showcase how any perfect moment, where nothing foreshadowed trouble, can turn into chaos in the blink of an eye.
This trend shares the humorous, raw, and often vulnerable side of content creators, which builds stronger connections and fosters all types of engagement – likes, comments, shares, and most importantly, the video gets watched until the end.
Literature hints have been replaced with what Gen Z refers to as “intrusive thoughts,” which inevitably manifest into reality. The videos start with brief moments of the inevitable humorous disaster, and proceed to showcase what happened right before it, with momentary clips of the disaster in between.
Why Did Subtle Foreshadowing Go Viral?
As mentioned before, subtle foreshadowing used to be (and still is) popular in literature, but the internet continues finding unique ways to turn historic and classical entertainment concepts and approaches into viral content trends all over the world.
So, what exactly is the irresistible appeal to the audience? Let’s break it down:
Humorous Irony
One of the primary drivers of this trend is the very obvious misuse of the word “subtle.” Instead of delicately planting small clues for future events, the trend does the exact opposite by flashing the moment of pure chaos that will happen very shortly (such as someone falling, slipping, spilling, or freaking out).
If you’ve encountered such videos, you know that the hint of the disaster is anything but subtle!
This approach hooks the viewer from the very first second, making them “in on the disaster,” which fosters attention and engagement right away.
Inevitable Disaster and Malicious Joy
A universal guilty pleasure – every single one of us has felt at least a slight amount of joy from watching someone else make a fool of themselves or watching things go wrong. And if you say “Not Me!” – you’re probably lying… right?
(Of course, the statement above and the trend itself only apply to mundane, simple, and NOT life-changing or heartbreaking situations, which can be viewed from a humorous perspective.)
Showing the inevitable outcome upfront creates a boost of instant guilty serotonin in the viewer’s brain, and the viewer is no longer watching to see if something will happen; instead, they are watching in anticipation to see how it will happen.
Engagement and Participation
The combination of the format, presentation, and the relatable approach is what drives audience engagement.
This trend makes the viewer an active participant in the showcased situation – they are now watching for clues, imagining themselves in the main character’s position, and identifying the exact moments where things go wrong.
The comments on the subtle foreshadowing videos are often full of users tagging others, mentioning how they’ve encountered something similar, or pinpointing the exact moment (to the second) where things go wrong. “It was at this moment that he knew… he F-ed up.” 😆
How To Implement The “Subtle Foreshadowing” Trend
Follow these steps to create your own Subtle Foreshadowing video to entertain and connect with your audience:
Step 1: Capture The Action
The most important part of this trend is having a moment of chaos, disaster, or comedy. That is your climax, which acts as your “foreshadowing.”
Plan your act/stunt, which ends in a harmless disaster. Consider the following ideas: running in heels and falling, spilling a drink on yourself, following DIY instructions with the project falling apart, or your pet causing trouble or reacting funny to something.
- Quick Tip: Think of a unique stunt relevant to your brand that resonates with your target audience.
Film the whole thing from the calm beginning to the chaotic end. The humor of the trend relies on daily lifestyle mishaps, so do not put yourself into dangerous situations (it’s not worth it and unnecessary for this trend).
Step 2: The Editing… The Magic!
Any video editing software will do, such as CapCut, Edits, Canva, or Veed.
- Import the entire video into the app of your choice.
- Scroll through your footage and find the most chaotic part (1-2 seconds) – that would be when you fall, spill something, your pet does a salto, etc.
- Separate the chaotic part of your video and insert it at the very beginning. Then, do so again about 2-3 seconds after, and as many times as you want throughout your video.
- Add an audio of your choice. Common soundtracks for this trend are Oh No by Capone and QKThr by Aphex Twin.
- Your final result should look like this: 1-2 seconds of disaster (the foreshadowing) followed by the rest of the video (the buildup) leading up to the disaster, with the foreshadowed moments sprinkled throughout the video.
Step 3: The Finishing Touches
These final touches will help your audience and the algorithm recognize the trend:
- Add a few captions or text overlays at the beginning of the video. Use phrases like “Wait for it…”, “It was at this moment that he knew…”, or just “Subtle foreshadowing”.
- Keep your video short, exaggerate the subtlety, and emphasize the innocence of the buildup.
- Review your video to ensure the timing and vibe feel right. Ensure your video aligns with community guidelines, add some relevant hashtags, and post!
Trend 2: Who Said That?
This trend is quite simple, yet effective, and brings creators tons of views and engagement. The point of the trend is to call yourself or others out by stating something that may or may not resonate with someone’s situation in a very blunt manner.
The statements can include controversial, bold, and unpopular opinions; however, they are typically based on facts and personal experiences.
This trend applies to various life scenarios. Most creators choose to stick to topics like relationship advice, healthy lifestyles, success, and self-reflection; however, any topic can work if executed well.
Why Is It Trending?
The Who Said That trend resonates with people due to its comedic presentation, unique yet valid opinions, and psychological reliability.
Creators openly share their own flaws, imperfections, and life mistakes and call themselves out on them, and people love unapologetic honesty.
The trend became popular among numerous creators due to the feeling of catharsis – getting something off one’s chest and finally being honest with oneself.
For many people, social media is a safe space for self-expression, and creators use it not only to entertain their audience but also to receive support and validation from like-minded followers.
How To Implement The “Who Said That” Trend
It’s simple. Remember, the goal is to call yourself out on one of your flaws. You can also choose someone else to call out; however, do so at your own risk, as you may receive pushback or outright hate.
Step 1: Choose a Topic
Pick a topic you might have a controversial opinion on. If you’re struggling to pick one off the top of your head, here are some ideas for your consideration:
- Relationship advice
- Healing after a breakup
- Starting a new hobby
- Getting out of your comfort zone
- Pet peeves
- Friendships
- Health journey
- Self reflection
- Toxic work environment
- Self love
- Prioritizing quality over quantity
- Prioritizing your peace
- Financial advice
- Business advice
- Travel
- Driving habits
- Clothing styles
- Bare minimum vs what you deserve
- Laziness
- Politics
- Spending habits
Step 2: Record The Trend, Edit, and Post
Once you have chosen a topic, record yourself talking about it and sharing your experience and opinion. You can plan a script, but the goal is to come off as though you spontaneously decided to share your thoughts.
The controversial opinion should be either recorded with you outside of the frame or as though it wasn’t you who said that. You can record yourself turned away from the camera, and say your opinion so that your mouth isn’t visible.
Once you are done with the controversial part, quickly turn your face back to the camera and innocently ask, “Who said that?! 😮”. You can add a gasp before that and a surprised facial expression.
The goal is to record the entire thing without doing too much external editing. Remember, it should come off as you deciding to share something spontaneously, and almost with a sense of urgency for your audience.
When posting, use relevant captions and hashtags like #callingmyselfout, #callingyouout, #whosaidthat, #unpopularopinion, #controversialopinion, and other hashtags of that nature.
Watch your video to make sure everything makes sense and sounds to your liking, and post!
Closing Remarks
Today, analyzed two of the recent content trends that have been gaining tons of exposure on social media: Subtle Foreshadowing and Who Said That.
If you’ve reached this point, you should be able to implement the actionable guides to participate in both trends.
Have fun!
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Key Contributors: Stephanie Hill, Vlad Strizheus
