I watch too many of those Reddit story times

Is this too niche even for Substack?

TL;DR: Reddit posts (and, consequently, AI-generated posts that mimic these storytimes) have taken over my TikTok feed.

A prime example is the popular account, Scaling Stories. If unfamiliar, take a crack at a few of these and come back to me.

The format is simple: An AI voice reads a story—usually stolen but sometimes credited—from a Reddit user. TikTok creators then pair this audio with random video gameplay, giving viewers something to watch while reading large captions. These posts are often wild tales of mischief or misfortune—modern-day soap operas for the digital age.

Thanks to TikTok’s platform, these stories are condensed into videos usually under five minutes. Perfect for anyone with a short attention span. They deliver bite-sized drama that keeps us hooked.

Why are these stories so addictive?

Unironically, I find myself addicted to these storytimes. They're formulaic, designed to capture my attention, but I can’t look away. Which raises the question: How are Reddit users (or AI generators) so good at drawing me in?

To understand this, let’s break down these storytimes:

The key elements of a successful TikTok Reddit story-time

1. Attention-Grabbing “Taglines”

   Reddit posts generally have a “tagline” rather than a traditional title. These taglines provide the essentials: who the characters are, what the conflict is, and the stakes involved. But they often leave just enough mystery to pique curiosity, encouraging the audience to dive deeper into the story.

2. Protagonist and Characters Defined Quickly

   The protagonist’s age and gender are immediately defined, usually in parenthesis. This applies to every new character introduced. Main characters are typically presented as soon as the protagonist is, such as Husband (45M), Best Friend (17F), Step-Sister (26F). Any other relevant characters are introduced just as quickly, especially when they play a significant role in the story.

   This helps keep us focused on who’s important and what the key relationships are.

3. Updates

   Reddit users frequently post seeking advice or validation, hoping for feedback from the community. When a post gains traction, the original poster (OP) may provide updates as their story progresses. These updates are crucial for maintaining engagement, addressing lingering questions, or delivering new developments.

   Successful updates do two things: they resolve unanswered issues from the previous post and add enough intrigue to keep readers hooked.

4. Confrontation

   Conflict is key to any compelling story. If the OP introduces a problem, the audience expects to see how they confront it. Whether the protagonist succeeds or fails, readers want to witness the protagonist take action.
   

   In the comments, Reddit users often encourage the OP to address the issue head-on. These stories aren’t driven by passive characters—they’re active participants with stakes in the game.

5. Consequences

   With limited attention spans and word counts, Redditors are skilled at delivering stories that get to the point quickly. They pull readers in with just enough context before unveiling the consequences of the protagonist’s actions. The best stories show a clear cause-and-effect relationship, whether the ending is happy or not.

   Even if we assume that many of these posts are AI-generated, they consistently do a great job of mapping out the consequences that keep us invested.

6. Moral Dilemma

   Many Reddit posts revolve around moral dilemmas. Some are straightforward, with the OP simply needing a few anonymous users to give them a reality check. Others are far more complex, offering original, intricate scenarios that most people wouldn’t find themselves in. These high-stakes moral questions make for some of the most engaging and thought-provoking story-times on TikTok.

In Conclusion

TikTok Reddit storytimes are a digital phenomenon, offering bite-sized soap operas that suck you in with their concise structure, relatable conflicts, and high-stakes dilemmas. Whether these posts are human-generated or AI-created, there’s a lot to learn from their storytelling tactics.

I find them an excellent source of inspiration for capturing an audience’s attention—even if it’s for less than five minutes.

Are there other bite-sized niches I should look for out there?