Feeling down? TikTok says: Make a fan edit of yourself

Feeling bad about your appearance? Try making a fan edit of yourself. That’s the latest advice circulating on TikTok, where users are cutting and stitching together dramatic clips of themselves to the tune of Rasheeda’s 2006 track Got That Good. And it seems to work. One viral video, with 10 million views, has people hyping up the creator in the comments. “WHO IS THAT DIVA?” one wrote. “Chill out my bf is on this app,” another added. In another video, with 5.6 million views, the creator wrote, “Feel ugly? Make an edit with yourself to boost your confidence.” Again, the internet responded with compliments, and many saying they are going to try the trend for themselves. “This was my favorite activity as a high schooler,” one commented. “Made one yesterday and can’t stop looking at it,” another wrote. “Hold on wait I’m gonna try this but I’m afraid it would raise my ego through the roof.” The trend is meant to boost creators’ confidence by giving themselves a fan edit normally reserved for the likes of Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet, and other beloved celebrities. Fan edits have long been a cornerstone of fandom and online culture. They are also an art form, with dramatic music, flashy transitions, and glowing filters that show the subjects at their most attractive and iconic. But why should celebrities be the only ones who get the fan-cam treatment? It’s no secret that social media is a highlight reel. Yet even when we know Instagram is not real life, the constant exposure to filtered photos and curated feeds can take a toll on our self-image. Research backs this up. One 2021 study found that frequent Instagram use is linked to higher rates of body dissatisfaction, a stronger desire to be thin, and lower self-esteem among girls ages 14 to 24. Why not put those editing skills to good use instead?