The Brief: TikTokers have created a POV trend where they act out scenarios that take place in a fictional world where certain things are decided for them like who their soulmate is and how many points they're assigned.
DEEP DIVE
TikTokers are acting out various scenes that take place in a world where everything costs a certain number of points, which are represented by diamonds. Creator @bbygshaii has been credited for creating this choose your adventure POV trend, which is usually captioned with “#pov Life is a game of episode where the more diamonds you have, the better the decisions you can make…” These POV TikTok videos are often, but not exclusively set to the song “Backyard Boy” by Claire Rosinkranz. At the time of writing, over 750,000 videos have been made with the sound on TikTok, many of which feature this trend.
@dannyxmartinezx #pov Life is a game of episode where the more diamonds you have, the better the decisions you can make… #foryoupage #foryou #fyp IB: @bbygshaii
In these skits, the characters have a limited number of diamonds that they can spend to choose between outfits, social interactions, methods of transportation, and more. Videos from this POV/choose your adventure trend often include scenes from high school in a universe that seems like it could be its own episode of Black Mirror.
Another video style credited to several different creators depicts a world in which everyone is assigned a soulmate, who they may be able to communicate with, but not directly. This inspired a number of videos with the same premise, which are often set to “Backyard Boy” as well. Other similar trends show people living in fictional scenarios with strange occurrences like getting to know when they die or feeling the same emotions as their soulmate.
These trends demonstrate how in addition to creating dance moves and comedy skits, TikTokers are developing fictional worlds including science-fiction universes where teenagers must navigate everyday life under strange circumstances. Some of these videos, however, do have dark elements or twists, which is often characteristic of the POV acting genre.
Backyard Boy TikTok POV’s
The lyrics included in the clip go:
5 6 7 8
Dance with me in my backyard boy
Looking super fine in your corduroy
Drive me round the block
We can go in a loop
And we’ll turn the volume up on some
Good boy band tunesLove to feel the fresh air
I can feel your eyes stare
And I’m not gonna lie
I get a little bit scared
My heart is on wings
I’m living in dreams
And at the top of our lungs we sing
Da da da da da da
Da da da da da daEverything is perfect
Da da da da da da
Da da da da da da
All our words were worth it
Da da da da da da
Da da da da da da
Dancing around like a clown at the circus
Da da da da da da
Da da da da da da
Backyard boy you make me nervous
@lgquinny
@ashotiktokalot #pov : your life is a game of episode #fyp #foryoupage #love #crush #gf #xyzbca IB: @bbygshaii
@elongatedmusk #pov life is a game of “episode” PT 2 #foryoupage
@giannaspovss #pov : everytime your soulmate looses something it ends up in your possession #fyp (@lilydunson)
@fxckdimes #pov : life is a game of episode where the more diamonds you have the better decisions you can make.. (IB : @bbygshaii ) #fyp #foryou #foryoupage
@rileybalsam
@lilliandeelamb PART 3 i love this one #LetsFaceIt #Manifestation #foryou #pov #episode
More Sci-Fi POV’s
@bbygshaii povpt2: when you turn 21, your bank account and your soulmates appears above your head. she never cared about money but apparently he does
@lilydunson #pov when you turn 18, you can start having conversations with your soulmate (ib: @coleallisonn) #foryou #fyp
@eggzima pov: your soulmates criminal charges are listed above your head (CREDS: @baileyspinn)
@brennenvvan #pov you telepathically communicate with a random person, each day you get someone new…until you find your soulmate
@alanaclem pov: when you turn sixteen you control your soulmates life for 48 hours… it doesn’t go as planned… #pov #fyp #alanaclem #viral #alanapov
@coleallisonn pov – on your 16th birthday you get to recieve either $10,000 or a watch… the watch has secret powers though😳