Watch out: TikTokers are making coursework fun again. An unlikely new trend sees adults using AI to make school curriculums in an attempt to achieve their dream lives
Most of us can remember treating our old school copies with some measure of violence upon graduating – be it ripping, shredding or, for the theatrically inclined, setting on fire. But it turns out that thousands of TikTokers are making school-style curriculums for themselves as part of budding trend.
The hashtag ‘curriculum’ has almost 100K posts on the video-sharing app, while those showing off their personalised learning schedules have gained millions of views. TikTok user Katie Cartwright appears to have partly fuelled the trend, after posting about how she was “building her dream life as if it’s a college curriculum.”
READ MORE: Inside the UK’s tarot card boom as millions flock to TikTok fortune tellersREAD MORE: Jane Austen has audiobook revival as ‘yearning’ becomes the hottest dating trend
She revealed how she’d chosen four areas of her life that she wanted to improve and had set goals for each one, which includes reading and meditating every day. “I feel so much more on track with my goals because I’m framing them in a way that I understand,” she explained.
Commenters flocked to the video to share how the idea of creating a ‘personal curriculum’ had inspired them to make their own. From reading more to learning new skills like chess and crocheting, curriculums have been helping people find time and stay consistent.
One user raved about how it helped them learn “so much”, while another praised it as “a detailed and active vision board”.
Even better, people have also been using ChatGPT to curtail their dream lives for them. TikToker Madison Freeman shared: “I’m going back to school – but not in the way that you might think.” She then revealed how she used the AI to generate a 12-week semester-style curriculum to improve her knowledge on areas like finance, personal development and motherhood.
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.
You might be wondering why this has taken off in such a massive way. After all, one of the best parts about exiting education is the promise of no more homework. But it seems that having a routine for learning is something that a lot of people are missing.
One creator, Olivia Unplugged described the trend as “learning for the sake of curiosity” – basically like attending class without the grades. She pointed out that while it might sound like you’re taking on a part-time job, many waste a similar amount of time on their phones.
Indeed, creating a routine that harkens back to our institutionalised schooldays may be one of the more effective ways of escaping the ‘brainrot’ cycle, which sees people spending hours each day doomscrolling through social media feeds.
In fact, a 2024 report by Ofcom revealed that the average UK adult is spending at least four hours a day on their phones – not far off a typical school day.
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!