#MainCharacter: pandemic brings TikTok self-parody to the fore

Why are young people imagining themselves as the protagonist in fictionalised versions of their lives?

Staring longingly out of a window watching the sunset across the New York skyline, or sitting on a balcony while Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey plays softly in the background. These are just a couple examples of a TikTok trend which sees young people act out scenarios and imagine themselves as a protagonist or the main character" in a fictionalised version of their life - usually based on film cliches.

With more than 5.2bn views of the app's #maincharacter hashtag - psychologists say the trend has gained momentum because lockdown and the feelings of isolation that come with it have created a gap once plugged by social connection.