POV

Definition:

A comedic social media content format where creators present a scenario from a specific "Point Of View," typically prefaced with "POV:" followed by a situation description, meant to place the viewer in a particular role or viewpoint

Context:

The POV format gained mainstream popularity on TikTok around early 2019, with one of the earliest notable examples being a video showing "what ur nintendo ds lite sees..." While the concept of POV has long existed in filmmaking & photography, its evolution as a meme format brought a unique twist to social media storytelling. The format initially aimed to provide viewers with unusual or comedic perspectives, often placing them in the role of inanimate objects or in peculiar situations.

Interestingly, as the trend evolved, many creators began misusing the term by showing third-person perspectives rather than true first-person viewpoints, leading to a somewhat diluted understanding of the original concept. This has led to much criticism and debate within online communities about proper usage, resulting in an additional meme trend about people using POV incorrectly.