If you've been on Instagram or TikTok recently, you've probably seen the subtle foreshadowing trend. It is a compilation of clips where the ending is repeatedly played throughout the video to show how the beginning became the end.
"The point of it is to slightly reveal what the punchline of a joke is in a video before it actually happens, just by doing quick-cut scenes back and forth," said Monet Emrey, a junior studying popular music.
The trend's name — subtle foreshadowing — is sort of ironic. Instead of the future being foreshadowed in a discreet manner, the quick transition is fast-paced and constant. It fuels a different type of interest from the viewer, where it's not the ending that is gratifying, but the process.
"It was funny at first, but then it got almost irritating," said James Stevenson, a sophomore studying psychology.
The trend, although entertaining, is indicative of a much larger process going on behind the screens. It calls out the shortening attention span Instagram and TikTok users have.
Current human attention span estimates are at around 8.25 seconds. A huge contribution to that is social media expansion.
"People (are) just so used to clicking through videos so quickly," Emrey said. "Your attention span is going to be shorter as you get more used to that and adapt to it."
With the subtle foreshadowing trend, the hook or shock value of certain videos reveals itself. Typically, the ending is the most rewarding part of a video.
"In my experience, the only reason I stayed on the video is to see how it got to that end point," said Isabel Milone, a sophomore studying film and media production. "I don't think I would have stayed if I didn’t know what happened in the end."
However, with this trend, it's revealed that regardless of if you know the ending, you're still hooked to this video because of another reason.
"Where's the shock value? If you already know the shock, then what's the point?" Stevenson said.
As trends like subtle foreshadowing arise, it's important to question the methods behind why these trends are so popular. It's a fun concept of cutting back and forth between the beginning and the end. This leaves it up to the viewer to interpret and guess how the seemingly normal video turns into a crazy ending.
"It was kind of a quick trend, too," said Milone. "It only lasted a month or two months."
The speed of the trend might even showcase that the shock value being gone makes the video less desirable to watch.
And with trends like these, attention spans continue to shorten.
"I love a good joke, but it's a good three to five seconds," Emrey said.
With new TikTok trends and Instagram viral videos, social media and its effects become more clear. The intentions behind these videos are simple - to grab your attention.
"Every method of what a video can do: a different idea just progresses one's career. And I think it's pretty cool that it came and went," Emrey said.
Edited by Andrew Dirst, Sophia Ramirez and Madeline Schmitke.
Reach the reporter at gachatht@asu.edu.
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Gokul is a sophomore studying actuarial science. This is his third semester with The State Press.
