The “I’m a potato” trend took TikTok by storm in early 2022, with videos of people declaring themselves to be potatoes racking up millions of views and likes. But where did this quirky and absurd trend come from in the first place?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the origins of the “I’m a potato” TikTok meme, exploring how it started and spread across the platform. We’ll also analyze some of the most popular iterations of the trend and discuss why it resonated with so many TikTok users. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how one of the silliest TikTok crazes of 2022 took off and went viral.
The First “I’m a Potato” TikTok
The earliest known “I’m a potato” TikTok was posted by user @nitroboy97 on January 29th, 2022. In the 13-second video, @nitroboy97 declares “I’m a potato” in a distorted, lowered voice while wearing a large paper mâché potato costume. The video, which was captioned “I became the very thing I swore to destroy,” quickly amassed over 5 million views and kickstarted the viral trend.
Soon after @nitroboy97’s inaugural potato TikTok, other users began posting their own renditions of the meme. Within days, “I’m a potato” videos were proliferating across TikTok, with the hashtag #imapotato accumulating hundreds of millions of views. Everyone from popular TikTok stars to everyday users got in on the trend, using editing tricks, costumes, and deadpan humor to transform themselves into anthropomorphic potatoes.
Factors Behind the Trend’s Popularity
There are a few key reasons why the “I’m a potato” meme resonated so strongly with the TikTok community:
Absurdity
A major part of the trend’s appeal was its sheer absurdity and randomness. Declaring oneself to be a potato is inherently funny and bizarre, which allowed the meme to capture people’s attention. TikTok trends often thrive on quirky, surreal humor, and “I’m a potato” was a prime example of this.
Simplicity
While some iterations of the trend involved elaborate costumes and effects, the basic premise was incredibly simple. All you had to do was look at the camera and state “I’m a potato” in order to participate. This low barrier for entry allowed the trend to spread easily across TikTok.
Relatability
Strangely enough, calling oneself a potato is also somewhat relatable, tapping into the experience of feeling awkward or incapable of fitting in. For many teens and young adults, the TikTok presented an opportunity for lighthearted self-deprecation.
Creativity
The straightforward nature of declaring “I’m a potato” also allowed for lots of creative variations. Users got very inventive with costumes, editing, deadpan humor, and more to produce their own unique spin on the meme. This showcase of creativity likely extended the trend’s lifespan.
Notable Iterations
Certain TikTokers took the “I’m a potato” meme to new heights with posts that went viral, accumulating millions of views. Here are some of the most popular variations on the trend:
@carly.rose28 – Cozy Potato
One of the top posts came from TikToker @carly.rose28, who dressed up as a “cozy potato” wrapped in a blanket while declaring her new starchy identity. The cute and comforting spin struck a chord, earning over 5.7 million likes.
@kallmekris – Potato Reveal
In one of the more conceptual and dramatic takes, @kallmekris started her video looking glammed up, then wiped off her makeup for a “potato reveal.” The shocking transfiguration into a potato earned over 4.9 million likes.
@misslailalight – Potato Dance
@misslailalight went for sheer enthusiasm in her entry, donning a potato suit and doing a silly dance while cheerfully announcing “I’m a potato!” Her commitment paid off, with the video receiving 3.7 million likes.
@potatopuppycat – Puppy Potato
Combining two internet loves, @potatopuppycat dressed their puppy up as a potato for an adorable doggy version of the meme. Animal posts already perform well on TikTok, and the added potato humor brought in 5 million likes.
The Appeal of Food Trends
The “I’m a potato” meme joins a long list of viral food-related TikTok trends. Videos featuring whipped coffee, pancake cereal, baked feta pasta, and more have all exploded in popularity on the platform. There seems to be a perfect alchemy between food and TikTok trends:
Food is Relatable
Cooking and eating are universal human experiences, allowing food trends to translate easily across cultures. When a food item goes viral, it automatically taps into this global relatability.
Food Trends Spread Joy
Videos of novel recipes and indulgent food items tend to spread joy and lift people’s moods. Feel-good content performs exceptionally well on TikTok, keeping food trends circulating widely.
Food Inspires Creativity
Whipping up a viral food item presents the opportunity to get creative with everything from ingredients to presentation. TikTok users love showing off their creative cooking skills.
Food is Interactive
Food lends itself perfectly to the participatory nature of TikTok. Users can watch a recipe video then create the dish themselves, sharing the process. This interactivity propels food trends.
The Meme’s Life Cycle
Like most viral TikTok phenomena, the “I’m a potato” trend burned brightly but faded quickly as newer memes emerged. Here’s a look at the meme’s rapid lifecycle from explosion to eventual decline:
January 29 – Early Spread
Immediately after @nitroboy97’s initial video, early adopters started posting their own potato transformations and the views started piling up.
February 5 – Peak Popularity
Just over a week after the first post, “I’m a potato” videos were taking over TikTok feeds, with both established and aspiring creators participating. The hashtag peaked at over 5 billion views.
February 15 – Saturation
By mid-February, the meme was reaching saturation. Though still widely popular, the novelty had worn off for many users who were moving on to fresher trends.
March 1 – Decline
Within a month of the original, posts using the “I’m a potato” sound and hashtag had declined sharply. Though some users kept it alive, the trend faded from its peak ubiquity.
April – Resurgence Attempts
As the meme faded, some attempted to revive it by putting new spins on the format, like incorporating potato-themed dances. However, these efforts failed to restore the trend to its former glory.
Why the Trend Diminished
The “I’m a potato” meme was ultimately a fleeting trend, emblematic of the ephemeral nature of viral TikTok content. Here are some of the factors that led to its decline over time:
Over-saturation
The meme’s simplicity made participation easy, but also meant it got over-saturated extremely quickly. When feeds were flooded with potato videos, it lost its novelty appeal.
Lack of Evolution
Successful TikTok trends evolve over time by putting fresh spins on the formula. However, “I’m a potato” remained fairly static, besides some creative costuming and editing.
Emergence of New Trends
New viral phenomena inevitably capture users’ attention. As novel memes like “corn kid” emerged, users moved on from the potato videos.
Temporary Escapism
The trend provided temporary escapism through absurdist humor. But for most, declaring oneself a potato wasn’t substantial enough to retain interest long-term.
The Meme’s Lasting Impact
Though its time in the spotlight was short, the “I’m a potato” meme did leave some lasting impact on TikTok and internet culture at large:
Mainstreamed Absurdist Humor
The trend exemplified the mass appeal of absurdism and non-sequiturs. This type of random, weird humor is now commonly expected on TikTok.
Inspired Creativity
The meme highlighted TikTok’s potential for spurring creative, participatory trends. Even simple video concepts can inspire artistic expression.
Demonstrated Food Trend Appeal
The potato theme reinforced why food is the perfect fodder for TikTok viral content. Expect food trends to continue dominating.
Set the Template for Transformation Trends
Its transformation element paved the way for future trends centered around shape-shifting or embodying objects. Expect more memes in this mold.
Conclusion
In the fast-paced world of TikTok virality, no trend stays at the forefront for long. But the “I’m a potato” meme cemented absurdism as a pillar of TikTok humor while highlighting the platform’s ability to spark creativity. It arose from an innocuous, random video, then rapidly snowballed into a fleeting but far-reaching sensation. For a brief period in early 2022, we were all potatoes – and TikTok will likely keep serving up additional oddball trends for years to come.