About

The Locked In Alien, also known as What Is the Next Step of the Operation?, refers to a series of TikTok videos showing an alien relaying instructions that many said was "locked in." The original video was created by TikToker @breachextract in December 2024. They used an AI video system to create it. The question, "What is the next step of the operation?" is asked by two agents to the alien in one of the original videos. The Locked In Alien memes use the deconstructed rap song "Scissorhands" by Trekkrrholymountain and Weeping Wi11ow as the TikTok sound.

Origin

On December 11th, 2024, TikToker^[1] @breachextract posted a video of an alien speaking with a "Breaking News" graphic. The video's audio was the song "Scissorhands" by Trekkrrholymountain and Weeping Wi11ow.^[2] Over 12 days, the video received over 2.9 million plays and 598,900 likes (shown below).

On December 19th, TikToker^[3] @breachextract shared a new video with the alien, showing two agents asking the creature, "What is the next step of the operation?" The song is again "Scissorhands" by Trekkrrholymountain and Weeping Wi11ow.^[2] Over four days, the TikTok amassed over 3.4 million plays and 644,000 likes (shown below).

In the comment section of the abovementioned video, TikToker @username123454321__ posted a comment reading, "Geeked vs locked in," gaining over 41,200 likes in four days (shown below). Going forward, TikTokers began calling the alien the "Locked In Alien" because of the comment.

Spread

In the following days, others on TikTok used @breachextract's videos for their own content. For instance, on December 22nd, 2024, TikToker^[4] @_y0peta_ used the original video in a two-panel meme, showing the alien as "locked in" vs. someone who's "geeked," receiving over 1.2 million plays and 287,200 likes in a day (shown below).

Similar two-panel videos showing the difference between "geeked" and "locked in" were posted on December 22nd, like one shared by TikToker^[5] @notsogoodgameryt that compared streamer IShowSpeed raging to the alien, amassing over 660,700 plays and 161,700 likes in a day (shown below).

A slew of Locked In Alien memes surfaced on December 22nd, 2024. For instance, on the day, TikToker^[6] @ace.jrz posted a video that added a top caption reading, "How it be when you and bro both geeked and start speaking pure facts," receiving over 2.3 million plays and 477,300 likes in a day (shown below).

Some started to compare the Locked In Alien meme to the King Von Anti-Piracy Screen meme because both involved an ominous subject and both surfaced in December 2024. For instance, on December 22nd, TikToker^[7] @m._.sl posted a video with both memes, joking about, "King Von thinking he got the last meme of 2024," amassing over 1.9 million plays and 399,300 likes in a day (shown below).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References