TikTok participants are engaging with a trend frequently utilized to look back on their vibrant, adventurous years.

While scrolling through your FYP on TikTok, you may have stumbled upon the “there was a time” trend. The structure is straightforward: 1) display someone or something in their current state, 2) state “…but there was a time,” 3) uncover how they used to be. For numerous individuals, this involves emphasizing that even though they are now parents holding a 9-5 job, they once embraced a party-centric existence. For others, the clips carry a more poignant nostalgia, mourning something they long for. Naturally, some TikToks that align with the trend are simply whimsical and comical.

Here are several illustrations of individuals who are now grounded yet used to frequent bars.

However, there are various other posts utilizing this trend, often featuring different TikTok sounds. Here’s a post about missing hockey.

Or parents showcasing their children’s growth.

Or humorous anecdotes about cherished dogs.

Or people reflecting on their prior jobs.

Or, as indicated by these posts, some utilize it to contemplate past relationships or deceased loved ones.

Ultimately, the trend explores how time changes us, often emphasizing the abandonment of a more uninhibited side for many.