TikTok

TikTokers Are Sharing Embarrassing Throwback Photos Of When They Thought They Looked Cool

A new trend has taken over TikTok and it ties into the theme of thinking you were cool as a kid when you obviously were not. There have been many iterations of this over the past couple of years but the trend has finally reached meme status.

It all started a few days ago when TikTok user @mally_a posted a video of how she strongly believed she was off the charts on the cool meter. 

@mally_a

if I still had that confidence it’d be over for everyone 😔🖐🏽

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In the video, she’s incredibly prepared for those lessons, with a nearly full-length suit, swim cap and goggles. The picture is so incredible it earned the video 773.3K likes and 3.3 million views. Looks like @mally_a was on to something.

Her next upload included another glimpse into her fashion-forward past. 

@mally_a

not my mom dressing me on trends before they were even trends 😌😌

♬ original sound – 🌽🌽

People were loving the childhood content, so it kept coming. 

@mally_a

😃😃

♬ all these videos are so cute guys – Ella

A post of her modeling at a bowling alley did even better than the swim lessons video. 

@mally_a

it’s the confidence for me

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But NOT as good as the video highlighting a professional photoshoot. 

@mally_a

y’all asked for more so here u go 🙄🖐🏽

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And this is around the time the meme format took off on TikTok, with thousands of people joining in with their own “cool” photos. 

@oheyitskiki

my mom took us to this concert but you bet i had a plan to drop her if the opportunity arose #onedirection #fyp

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@allyse.marie

Still didn’t work #greenscreen #MyRecommendation #single#oopsie#embarrased

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https://www.tiktok.com/@sierrabodnar/video/6894031643468680449

Every video proves it’s literally impossible to look back at photos from childhood — ESPECIALLY middle school — and say “Wow, I really killed those years with my fashion sense.”

@meg.oliviac

don’t have words for this one #fyp #foryou #JDWonderland #funny #cool

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@tessbump

#greenscreen 🤷🏼‍♀️

♬ Give us a cheeky follow if you use this sound – _lizzyyyyyxo

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Lindsay Patton