What Does [AS] Mean on TikTok?

With a plethora of content creators to choose from, it can be difficult to keep up with the multitude of trends seen across TikTok. One of the platform’s most notable trends is the [AS] hashtag, which allowed influencers of any size to showcase their immense creativity and talent. 

[AS] refers to Adult Swim, a subsection of Cartoon Network that focuses primarily on adult animation shows such as Family Guy and King of the Hill. Throughout its late-night broadcast, Adult Swim would often present bumps, showcasing various quirky animations that would adhere to its controversial style. 

On TikTok, creators depicted a similar style in an abundance of different ways. For example, some influencers write the Adult Swim logo in a variety of different fonts and mediums. In turn, this trend was able to express a fond sense of nostalgia for many audiences and gave micro-influencers the chance to take part as well. 

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How Did the Trend Start?

The true origins of this trend are unknown but it reached the peak of its popularity in the summer of 2021 with the [AS] hashtag earning an astounding 7.3 billion views. This trend focused on a wealth of unique motifs, with some creators using a variety of horror themes to help the content feel more absurd and post-modern.

Though the original Adult Swim bumps were a little more nuanced, TikTok creators have taken it upon themselves to make the trend more sentimental. Many influencers have expressed their love of the channel’s shows and how it reminds them so much of their childhood. 

Adult Swim is also aware of this phenomenal trend and replicated it in response. The brand’s video amassed 5.1 million likes and worked to commend the abundance of creators that helped to make this trend a viral hit. In June 2022, Adult Swim created another video celebrating the trend’s 1 year anniversary, asking fans to promote their hard work once again. 

What Song Is Used in the AS Trend?

A majority of the videos within the [AS] trend use a remixed version of BADBADNOTGOOD’s song Time Moves Slow. This sound was first posted by VANO 3000 and mimics the background music used in many of Adult Swim’s bumps. The song uses a range of lo-fi effects to create a highly addictive sound on TikTok. 

Benefits of Completing the [AS] Trend on TikTok

Though the [AS] trend is mainly geared toward American audiences, creators still have the chance to enjoy a deeply creative and ingenious trend. Influencers from all around the world are encouraged to follow a range of similar themes to help them interact with global audiences and showcase their impeccable editing skills. In turn, this is an incredibly versatile trend for a wealth of influencers. 

Many of TikTok’s most popular trends focus on dancing and challenges, which can make some creators feel excluded if they do not feel comfortable creating this type of content. Luckily, the [AS] trend works to highlight the more visual aspects of content creation. Thus, even if you do not feel inclined to show your face on camera, you can still replicate this trend in your own way. 

This trend also allows influencers to create content for a bustling brand without being directly affiliated with them. In turn, this helps content creators to emphasize their skills and makes them more attractive to other brands who are looking to complete effective influencer marketing campaigns. 

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