Editor's Note: This entry contains spoilers for I Saw the TV Glow; read at your own caution.

About

The I Saw the TV Glow Trend is a TikTok trend inspired by the 2024 film I Saw the TV Glow in which users talk about having once seen "the TV glow" but regrettably turning it off or ignoring it. In this case, the "TV glow" is a metaphor for an opportunity to be yourself, despite what others might think. The trend is inspired by the film's message and plot, an allegory for wanting to come out as transgender but being too afraid to do so, with the main protagonist refusing to be themselves throughout the film and ending up miserable in life. The trend was popularized on TikTok in November 2024 and covers a more broad spectrum than coming out as trans.

Origin

On May 3rd, 2024, I Saw the TV Glow was released. The film is an allegory for the experience of being and coming out as transgender. In the film, the protagonist, Owen, refuses to be himself (in this case by living as a trans person) despite knowing that it's what he wants. His friend, Maddy, tries to convince him to be himself but he refuses and ultimately ends up living life miserable into his adulthood. In the film, the glow of the TV represents his desire to come out and ignoring it represents his refusal to do so. In a broad sense, the film can be seen as a metaphor for being yourself, whether that means coming out as trans or something else.

On November 13th, 2024, TikToker^[1] @rekiloverr_r posted a video captioned, "when the TV is glowing but I've been trying to dim the light my whole life," garnering over 1.3 million views in a week. The caption is a direct reference to the film and its metaphor of refusing to embrace your true self.

Spread

The trend garnered viral spread on TikTok throughout November. On November 15th, 2024, TikToker^[2] @wrottingbats posted a video about how letting the TV glow was the best thing they ever did, garnering over 900,000 views in a week.

On the same day, X^[3] user @sapphicspielbrg posted screenshots of TikTokers following the trend, writing, "Someone just a showed me the new TV GLOW TikTok trend and it broke me," garnering over 9,900 likes in the same span of time.

On November 16th, TikToker^[4] @emitaa.o posted a video captioned, "I saw the tv glow so unplugged it did my makeup and grew out my hair but sometimes from far away I see the faint light of the tv flickering," garnering over 4.3 million views in six days.

That day, TikToker^[5] @birddeeee posted a video captioned, "i thought i saw the tv glow once, maybe it did. but i moved away so decided to unplug it anyways. i don't think it's glowing now, but it does flicker every now and then. maybe it will glow again and i'll be sure, or maybe unplugging it was the right call," garnering over 93,000 views in the same span of time.

On November 21st, TikToker^[6] @creatingkennedy posted a slideshow telling the story of how they came out as trans, using the metaphor of the TV glowing, garnering over 650,000 views in a day.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References