Creators Raegan Lynch and Nicholas Flannery head up a new trend of storytelling on TikTok. It’s their distinctive storytelling that has audiences across the globe hooked. Lynch, who has amassed over 588,000 followers on Instagram and 432,000 on TikTok, uses her platform to blend humor with heartfelt narratives. It’s this crisp storytelling and her incredibly keen eye for cinematography that have catapulted her videos into the viral spotlight.
Lynch’s path to becoming a creative content producer is informed by her education. She went on to earn her B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Further afield, she served as a Princeton in Asia Fellow in Laos. Her interdisciplinary, bilingual background inspires her holistic, creative approach. You can check this out for yourself by watching her fun TikTok videos, in which she walks you through British grocery store aisles and makes new friends through basic, relatable conversations.
Each one of Lynch’s videos starts with a hook specifically catered to grab their audience’s attention. In one particularly memorable clip, she remarks, “Day 25 of starting over my whole entire life,” which resonates with many who relate to her journey of personal growth and connection. Her candid attempts to compliment strangers on their outfits highlight her desire for connection, adding an authentic touch to her content.
Nicholas Flannery, the “fairy godfather of TikTok,” has found success on the platform with a distinct style. Today y’all, with a mind-boggling 5.5 million followers, with all of them characters in his serialized TikTok dramas. It is precisely his ability to navigate these various spheres that adds a kinetic energy to Morales’ storytelling. Beyond providing entertainment, Flannery’s work has inspired debate and discussion among viewers.
In one of his recent skits, he humorously observes, “Oop not the work trip where they have isolated time to bond!! Poor husband he barely gets to see her lol – I wonder how the conference will go, maybe they’ll just have tension for the time being…” This cheeky story acts as a stand-in for the weird but wondrous day-to-day life most viewers know all too well, deepening his charm.
Both creators have successfully capitalized on a growing trend among American viewers. They’re going to find that they’re consuming more and more social-first, scripted comedy on TikTok. The platform has evolved from its initial short-form dance challenges and lip-syncing videos to host a variety of creative genres, including scripted dramas that engage viewers more deeply.
Sydney Robinson is another prominent figure in this realm, starring in the scripted microdrama “The Group Chat,” which has successfully transitioned from TikTok to mainstream media, including features on the Today Show. After its first season racked up nearly 100 million views across five videos, “The Group Chat” has returned for a second season, further illustrating the appetite for engaging content on social media platforms.
Amanda Silberling, senior writer at TechCrunch, has been tracking changing audience tastes. In the process, they’ve begun adopting new storytelling formats. She highlights how shows like “Broad City,” “Insecure,” and “Letterkenny” have set the stage for creators like Lynch and Flannery to thrive within this evolving media landscape.
The success of these TikTok stars further reinforces the notion that TikTok is becoming a viable platform for storytelling and artistic expression. Lynch and Flannery are always thinking of new ways to surprise and delight their audiences. Their stories illustrate the power of social media to bridge the gap between classic narratives and contemporary lived experience.