AITA for ruining my boyfriend’s ‘clout’ on TikTok?

Picture a young couple, once close, now split by a smartphone screen. He’s a TikTok star with 80k followers, churning out thirst traps and a “day in the life” video claiming four hours of cuddles with her. But she knows it’s a lie—his six-hour filming obsession has left her sidelined for weeks. Hurt, she duets his video, exposing texts of ditched dates and broken plans. Her post explodes, his followers flee, and he begs her to lie to save his clout. She refuses.

This Reddit saga is a sharp jab at love in the age of likes. Was her duet a justified truth-bomb, or a petty blow to his dreams? It’s a story that pulses with digital drama, betrayal, and the cost of going viral.

‘AITA for ruining my boyfriend’s ‘clout’ on TikTok?’

This Reddit post lays bare a girlfriend’s stand against her boyfriend’s TikTok facade. Here’s her story, raw and unfiltered:

I am 20F. My boyfriend (21M) downloaded TikTok a while ago & developed a decent following, nothing close to Charli or anything but around 80k followers which is pretty impressive. Most of his videos are 'thirst trap' type videos (basically him just being hot on camera lol), which I am totally fine with.

However for the past month, he's been trying to push out more content because he wants to hit 100k followers before his birthday in April. He's gone from spending 2-3hrs filming per day to close to 6hrs (filming, editing, etc). He's still in school and I work during the day, so the time he spends filming is now cutting into the time we used to spend together.

I brought it up with him two weeks ago and he said he'd try to make time for me but hasn't yet. We haven't spent any time together at all this week, and last week he was an hour late to our date (which I had to leave work early to get to) because he was filming stuff. Two days ago, he posted a 'day in the life' TikTok. He filmed his 'daily routine' which was pretty accurate.

But he also included a clip of us cuddling with text over it that said '4:00-8:00, spending time with my girlfriend'. I was a little bit hurt by it. The clip he used was over 2 months old, and I honestly can't remember the last time he spent more than half an hour with me, let alone 4 hours.

In response, I dueted the video and greenscreened screenshots of his texts from when he ditched me to film, pushed dates back by hours, cancelled plans, etc. I admit, it was petty, but I was upset that he was essentially using our relationship for clout & 'boyfriend points' with his followers but hasn't been putting any effort into the relationship IRL.

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My video blew up & his comments are filled with angry comments telling him off for being neglectful, using me for clout, etc. He's lost a chunk of followers as well. He's really upset with me, he said I had no reason to sabotage his TikTok account like that, and if I was upset with him, I should have just talked to him.

He's begging me to post a follow up video saying the screenshots were fake & vouch for him being a good boyfriend, but I'm refusing. I do feel bad because he is pretty dedicated to his account, and I feel guilty for being the reason he's losing followers, but at the same time I feel like what I did was justified. AITA?

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This TikTok tussle is a vivid snapshot of social media’s grip on relationships. The boyfriend’s inflated “daily routine” video, using a months-old clip to fake quality time, prioritizes clout over connection, wounding his girlfriend. Her duet, while petty, was a cry for accountability after her ignored pleas. His demand for a false follow-up video doubles down on image over integrity, showing a deeper rift.

Relationship therapist Dr. Esther Perel notes, “Social media can amplify neglect when validation online trumps real-world bonds” (Source). A 2023 study in Computers in Human Behavior found that 58% of couples report strain when one partner prioritizes social media fame (Source). The boyfriend’s follower loss is a consequence of his misrepresentation, not her malice.

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She should stand firm but consider a private talk to reset boundaries, if salvageable. “Authenticity heals,” Perel advises. He needs to reassess his TikTok obsession and its cost to love. Both could benefit from a digital detox.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Reddit dropped takes as hot as a trending video. Here’s what the crowd had to say:

CocaoPuffs97 − NTA he lied for clout and the truth exposed him, he needs to earn back the followers whose trust he violated, it’s not you’re job to lie AGAIN for more clout. I think he might need a break from TikTok tbh.

blinkingsandbeepings − ESH. He's being a s**tty boyfriend but you really went for the nuclear option there. I feel like you can't make stuff public like that if you don't intend to break up, because no one who sees that is ever going to respect your relationship again, and that's going to take its toll on both of you.

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BliebBloopMofo − ESH. He is a d**che, and you did the equivalent of throwing all of his stuff out of the 2nd floor window, with him and the whole neighborhood watching.

ostrichesonfire − ESH for using details of your relationship online with weird motives, instead of communicating effectively. Definitely confirms my choice to stay away from social media (Except for Reddit that’s not connected to my actual name or anything, I’m not actually a flaming ostrich) Every aspect of this sounds so alien to me.

[Reddit User] − NTA he had it coming.

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Alma_knack − ESH. You both sound exhausting.

toodlesby − ESH, he sucks for lying about your relationship for points. You suck for throwing him under the bus using something he obviously cares about against him. If you were just to do that and then leave at least I could understand. How do you expect to move on from here?

lMDB_Scammed − ESH, you went for the worse option but he sucks more since he seems to care more about his social media following than your relationship. Begging you to post a follow up video saying the screenshots were fake & vouch for him being a good boyfriend? seriously are those followers that important?

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thescooobygang − NTA. Your boyfriend is using your relationship as a convenient means for gaining followers & views but putting no effort into maintaining said relationship. What you did was a little petty, but IMO, deserved. If you had talked to him & seen a change in his behaviour, but still posted the video, you'd be more TA. But his behaviour didn't change.

4614065 − NTA. He sounds a little douchey TBH.

These Reddit opinions are as bold as a viral dance, but do they miss the chance for a less public resolution?

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This story is a wild mix of love, lies, and likes. The woman’s duet exposed her boyfriend’s neglect, but its viral sting hit hard. Could a direct talk or a subtler post have spared the fallout, or was public truth the only way? What would you do if your partner used your love for clout? Share your thoughts—have you ever clashed over social media’s pull

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