The “Pretending I’m…” trend on TikTok is a humor-driven content format where creators overlay text like “Pretending I’m a successful entrepreneur because I’m bored” on short, relatable clips.
These videos lean into self-aware satire, often poking fun at everyday ambitions, quirks, routines, or anxieties in a way viewers recognize.
The format doesn’t require complex editing; it depends on relatable captions and timing to land the joke.
This trend fits into TikTok’s broader short-form humor ecosystem, where creators produce casual, personality-forward content that drives engagement and sharing.
Humor and entertainment remain core reasons people interact with TikTok: surveys show that a large portion of TikTok users seek out funny, engaging content when scrolling.
According to Global Web Index data, entertaining content is one of the most common ways users interact with the app, with over 40% of users regularly uploading reaction or humorous videos.
Additionally, TikTok users globally spend more time on the platform daily than on most other social media platforms, with an average engagement time of around 95 minutes per day.
Why This Trend Matters Today
Short-form humor content on TikTok has become a staple of how audiences express identity and community.
With TikTok reaching nearly 2 billion users as of late 2025, and a significant share aged 18-34, the demographic most active in creating and consuming trends, formats that tap into shared humor have an outsized reach.
The “Pretending I’m…” videos are simple to replicate but resonate because they reflect recognizable life scenarios, which increases the chance of engagement and sharing.
This trend also illustrates how casual, unpolished content can perform strongly on TikTok’s algorithm. Humor formats like this encourage participation from everyday users, not just influencers, helping normalize relatable content over curated perfection.
Because TikTok users open the app frequently, about 20 times per day on average, formats with low production barriers can accumulate views quickly.
How To Do The ‘I’m Pretending’ Trend
To join the viral trend, record a short clip that visually matches the sentiment you want to share; it can be as simple as you sitting at a desk, walking, or doing an everyday task.
Add a bold text overlay that begins with “Pretending I’m…” followed by a relatable or satirical identity or situation (e.g., “Pretending I’m a productivity guru after one coffee”).
Keep the clip under 10–15 seconds so viewers absorb both the text and the visual content quickly.
Match the caption and hashtags to the vibe of your video.
Use relevant keywords like #fyp, #relatable, #tiktoktrend, and words tied to the scenario you’re portraying (e.g., #entrepreneurlife).
- Pro Tip: Place the punchline early in the overlay text so viewers, even those reading on mute, still get the joke. Monitor engagement in the first hour to gauge whether the phrasing or concept resonates with your audience, and refine it in follow-up posts.
You may also want to check out some of our other social media trend updates.
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