![How It Started vs. How It's Going How It Started vs. How It's Going](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/035/439/howcover.jpg)
How It Started vs. How It's Going
About
How It Started vs. How It's Going refers to a Twitter trend in which users upload two sequential images labeled under the text, "How it started," and, "how it's going." The trend began with people sharing images related to their romantic relationships under the text, before users started applying the format to more broad categories, such as self-improvement posts, and ironic parodies of relationship posts. Alternatively, the label "How It Ended" is used in place of "How It's Going."
Origin
On September 23rd, 2020, Twitter user vjillanelles[1] posted a tweet using the described format, featuring a screenshot of a DM conversation as photo one, and an image of the user and her partner embracing as photo two (shown below). The tweet gained over 25 thousand likes, 1.1 thousand retweets and quote tweets in 14 days. This appears to be the first instance of the trend, and uses the phrase "how it ended" as the second photo label rather than "how it's going."
![How It Started Start mel @vjllanelles how it started how it ended magui @villanelling magui liked a reply to your Tweet guessing your a bottom but wants to be a to i see you and I F--- YOU 23/0 i live for you being exposed < also congrats, nice excuse to slide into my dms 23/03/2020, 20:44 9:24 AM - Sep 23, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 1.1K Retweets 1.1K Quote Tweets 25.6K Likes >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/675/4b7.png)
Spread
The trend quickly caught on, with many users quote tweeting their own versions of the format. On September 24th, Twitter user Taylor Phillips[2] posted a version of the format, garnering over 60 thousand likes and 10 thousand retweets in 13 days (shown below, left). On September 25th, Twitter user serinide[3] uploaded a version of the format, garnering over 4.7 thousand likes and 132 retweets in 12 days (shown below, right).
![sweet stuff Taylor Phillips @ TaylorJPhillips how it started how it ended Hey there Happy Saturday pardon me if l'm barking up the wrong tree haha Happy Saturday! Thank GOD. I needed a break this week.. haha. And thanks for finding me. Bark all you want I need a break every week And as you wish He's funny too huh 3:20 PM · Sep 24, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone ....... >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/697/8cb.png)
![goals Reb @serinide · Sep 25 how it started how it ended Since it's (kind of) near e3 days 626 NIGHARKET Jun 2, 2018, 6:20 PM AX isn't til july :p otherwise i would! Jun 2, 2018, 622 PM wait what on earth i thought e3 was at the end of june OOPS Guess we can't take a league cosplay picture together eee Jun 2, 2018, 6:28 PM/ one dayyyy Jun 2, 2018, 6:41 PM 市 OK ok! Jun 2, 2018, 8:16 PM Hi hellol I've been living in japan for two months and I saw you're coming and thought I'd drop a line. Let me know if you're free to hang out brother it'd be coolio! Apr 22, 2019, 5:46 AM](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/701/d10.png)
As the trend continued to grow, users started applying different scenarios under the labels and began using "how it's going" in place of "how it ended," although both are still used. Some of the most popular of these are parody posts, showing off a stagnant or non-existent relationship. On October 4th, Twitter user MahmudMay12[4] uploaded a parody of the trend, garnering 108 likes in 3 days (shown below, left). On October 5th, WonnJamesss[5] posted a similar parody, garnering over 13.5 thousand likes and 7.7 thousand retweets in 2 days (shown below, right).
![really forever alone Mahmud Ali @MahmudMay 12 How it started vs HOW ITS GOING Hi Hi Seen 8:42 PM · Oct 4, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 29 Retweets 8 Quote Tweets 108 Likes >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/761/a5d.png)
![forever alone Da Don @WonnJamesss How it started . How its going.. Single Single 7:48 PM · Oct 5, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 7.7K Retweets 627 Quote Tweets 13.5K Likes >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/760/597.png)
The trend also caught on with verified/corporate Twitter accounts. On October 7th, XboxFR[6] posted a version of the trend with an old Flight Simulator screenshot as photo one, and a new Flight Simulator screenshot as photo two (shown below, left). On the same day, Young Money's record label[7] tweeted out a format featuring Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj as photo one, and goats as photo two, garnering over 5.2 thousand likes and 1.5 thousand retweets that day (shown below, right).
![Flight Sim Xbox FR @XboxFR · 48m How it started how it's going III 200 40 Fiso ALT 150 KHOTS0 140 l00 120 554 15 15](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/756/8ef.png)
![the goats Young Money O @YoungMoneySite How it started How it's going 305 THE www.The305.com 10:07 AM - Oct 7, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 1.5K Retweets 106 Quote Tweets 5.2K Likes >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/755/a84.png)
On October 7th, the mainstream media started reporting on the trend, including publications from Yahoo News,[8] boredpanda,[9] ESPN,[10] and The Indian Express.[11]
❄️ U So Icy Ima Glacier Boy
On October 7th, 2020, rapper Quavo posted a series of photos following the trend, using the text labels "HOW I PULLED UP" and "HOW WE COMING." The first photo is a screenshot of a DM conversation between he and rapper Saweetie, where Quavo sends a snowflake emoji to her, then uses the pickup line, "U so icy ima glacier boy." (Shown below.) This inspired Twitter users to send the snowflake emoji and pickup line to others, becoming a meme itself.
![u so icy girl QuavoYRN @QuavoStuntin HOW I PULLED UP: HOW WE COMING saweetie March 15, 2018 March 15, 2018 u so icy Ima glacier boy was hannin then March 15, 2018 5:14 PM - Oct 7, 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 81.2K Retweets 23.5K Quote Tweets 508.1K Likes](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/911/356/4b1.png)
Various Examples
![Naruto Changed Naruto @NarutoVibe · 1h How it started How it ended is waiting for me at home. elcome home, daddy. O 13 t7 688 1.9K >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/768/8e5.png)
![Dankaroos Are Back Dunkaroos @Dunkaroos · 1h How it started: How it ended: Dunkaroos O @Dunkaroos Definitely coming back. Summer 2020. BROUGHT BACK DUNKAROOS @ilovedunkaroos DunkAroos BRING BACK DUNKAROOS 9:26 AM - Nov 18, 2019 - Twitter for Android Definitely coming back! Summer 2020 8:14 AM - Feb 3, 2020 - Twitter Web App O 28 17 44 373](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/769/aca.png)
![mark ass brownlee Marques Brownlee @MKBHD How it started How it's going Premium mkbhd perfect smartphone Search luy Sony Smartphones? The Perfect Smartphonel (2013) 2020 153K 1.4K uS2002 viewe Aug 13.2013 mlee o Marques Browntee 12M subsorbers JOIN The impossible dream of the perfect smartphone in 2013. Video resporses welcomet o series is way cooler than any soles numbers indicate! 個](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/770/34a.png)
![car crash @sarahdestinyx · 1h How it's going : YT - Sarah Destiny How it started : One word - GOD 18 27 176 857 >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/776/f5e.png)
![big sad Pat @PatBafo · 4h How it started VS How it ended KABA PE SKABAFOR ZIN ZIM. C19700 MAKUA GP MAHA G KABEL KABELO GP Hellard O 61 27 261 449 >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/777/888.png)
![that's anime @kqrasuno · 57m how it's going how it started MEYANA TODAY... TODAY, ONCE AGAIN. 936 27 377](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/909/778/e92.png)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter – vjillanelles
[2] Twitter – TaylorPhillips
[4] Twitter – MahmudMay12
[5] Twitter – WonnJamesss
[7] Twitter – Young Money
[8] Yahoo News – ‘How It Started, How It’s Going’ Funny Memes and Jokes Are Here to Stay! From Sports, Romance to Singlehood, These Tweets Are Wholesome
[9] boredpanda – 30 Wholesome ‘How It Started vs. How It’s Going’ Posts
[10] ESPN – Sports social media gets in on 'How it started, how it's going'
[11] The Indian Express – ‘How It Started’ meme takes over Twitter, spreading some positivity and hope
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