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TikTok Star Sydney Jo Robinson Adapts "The Group Chat" for TV
The writer, star, editor, and producer of the popular TikTok series discusses her journey from theater to online content creation.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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Sydney Jo Robinson, known as @thatgirlsydjo on TikTok, has built a massive following of 1.7 million fans with her series "The Group Chat", which chronicles the texts and sidebars of a female friend group. Despite having no prior experience behind the camera, Robinson has turned her series into a full-fledged production, complete with defined storylines, cliffhangers, and even trips to locations like Costa Rica and Beverly Hills to film. Her grassroots approach, sharp sense of humor, and relatable concept have earned her accolades, including a nomination for Rising Star at the first-ever TikTok awards.
Why it matters
Robinson's success with "The Group Chat" highlights the growing trend of TikTok creators adapting their content for traditional media platforms. Her ability to build a loyal following and produce high-quality, narrative-driven content on the platform demonstrates the potential for TikTok to serve as a launchpad for aspiring filmmakers and storytellers.
The details
Robinson, a theater major who grew up doing plays, had no prior experience in editing, production, or videography when she started creating "The Group Chat". However, she was able to learn on the job, editing the series directly on TikTok. Each season of the show centers on a specific storyline, with defined conflicts, character development, and even cliffhangers and reunions, giving it a more linear, television-like feel. Robinson has also taken the production value up a notch, traveling to locations like Costa Rica and Beverly Hills to film.
- In December 2025, Robinson was nominated in the Rising Star category at the first-ever TikTok awards.
- In January 2026, Season 5 of "The Group Chat" dropped, featuring the characters Sloane and Alison caught in a feud.
The players
Sydney Jo Robinson
A TikTok creator known as @thatgirlsydjo, who is the writer, star, editor, and producer of the popular series "The Group Chat". She has built a following of 1.7 million on the platform.
Charlie Puth
A musician who is a fan of Robinson's "The Group Chat" series.
Hailey Bieber
A celebrity who has also collaborated with Robinson on her "The Group Chat" series.
Ryan Serhant
A real estate agent from the Netflix series "Owning Manhattan" who has collaborated with Robinson.
What they’re saying
“No, not even slightly. I was a theater major, and I grew up doing theater, so I always was an actor, but really, my voice was always the thing. I was really always a singer first, [so] I had no training in editing or production or videography, any of it.”
— Sydney Jo Robinson, Writer, Star, Editor, and Producer of "The Group Chat" (tvinsider.com)
“I think every season it grows a little bit more. And every season, I try to make it a little bit more ridiculous, where it's almost like, why is this on TikTok? But it's a full production. Traveling was part of that. Literally going to Costa Rica and going to Beverly Hills to film these, I think that was so crazy. And one of the things that made it feel like such a TV show. So I think every season I upped the ante a little bit.”
— Sydney Jo Robinson, Writer, Star, Editor, and Producer of "The Group Chat" (tvinsider.com)
What’s next
Robinson's success with "The Group Chat" has led to collaborations with other creators and industry figures, and she is likely to continue expanding the reach and production value of her series as she explores opportunities to adapt it for traditional media platforms.
The takeaway
Sydney Jo Robinson's journey from a theater-focused TikTok creator to the producer of a highly-acclaimed, narrative-driven series on the platform demonstrates the potential for aspiring filmmakers and storytellers to leverage the power of social media to build a following and showcase their talents. Her ability to learn new skills on the job and continuously elevate the production value of her series has earned her recognition and opportunities in the entertainment industry.
