Understanding GifTok: The Viral Phenomenon of Repeating Video Memes

The latest trend dominating TikTok involves users creating memes with gifs that slow down each time they replay within the video.

TikTok consistently evolves to accommodate users’ interests with emerging trends on the platform.

Known as GifTok, this trend allows TikTokers to craft their own memes using gifs, which are essentially animations of images or frames that slow down upon replay within the video.

One of the earliest and most viral GifToks was posted on August 26th by TikToker ‘kardockforpresident.’ In their video, they captioned, “Yo let’s skip class,” while showcasing a gif of Oscar Proud from Disney’s The Proud Family running away.

@kardockforpresident #tiktok #gif #giftok #fyp #fypage ♬ Times – RRoxket

TikTok user ‘skcorpii’ also gained massive popularity for their interpretation of the trend, amassing over 1 million views. Their video featured a gif of rappers Drake and Lil Yachty looking at a computer screen, seemingly coming to a realization.

In the description, they wrote, “Mfs with 0.3 GPAs after realizing you still need good grades to go to trade school.”

This prompted users in the comments to discuss their GPAs, resulting in some TikTokers humorously roasting others for their low grades.

@skcorpii You still need to make an effort 💀 #fypage #trending #giftok #foryou #xybca ♬ Scenario prod joathxn – Prod joathxn

Another amusing GifTok featured by ‘xlr8.___._’ included a slowed-down gif of a mummified Michael Jackson from the music video for ‘Thriller.’

They humorously captioned it, “How I look at bro when he leaves the interrogation room with a Happy Meal,” prompting viewers to laugh, with many commenting on how absurd it was to snitch for a Happy Meal.

@xlr8.___._ real😭 #giftok #meme #funny #viral ♬ that fire release fr – SyncedJay

While GifTok is currently a leading trend on TikTok, numerous other trends have also gained popularity this summer, such as ‘Humans saw this meme on TikTok’ and ‘The Symphony dolphin trend.’