Grown men are wishing their friends sweet dreams. The internet can't get enough.
When was the last time you called a friend, not to rant or finalize plans, but just to tell them sweet dreams?
A new TikTok trend encourages men to call up their friends before bed to tell them goodnight, and the internet is loving the heartfelt content. The majority of videos are filmed by a wife, fiancé or girlfriend.
In a video posted by TikTok couple Shae & Chris, Christopher Taylor elicits mostly confusion by his friends on the other end of the line.
"Man, I just called, man, to tell you goodnight," Taylor says while holding back a laugh.
"You did what, bro?" his friend responds, as Taylor quietly laughs in the background. "Say that one more time for me. Repeat that. What the hell is wrong with you man?" By the end of the video, the two are laughing together. As of May 21, the video had more than 657,000 views on TikTok.
TikTok trend: What is the Chromebook Challenge? The trend that has students destroying school laptops
The importance of friendship: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and the power of (and need for) male friendship
Other than some snickers, most of the videos feature a common thread: At least one friend making sure the caller is alright.
In a video posted by TikTok user Kassadi Lavrinovich, which as of May 21 had 2.5 million views, husband Mikhail Lavrinovich calls a handful of his friends to tell them goodnight. Though most responses involved some chuckles, others pulled at heartstrings.
"Are you joking?" one of Mikhail's friend asks with a laugh. "Well thanks man, I appreciate that. I don't remember the last time somebody said good night to me."
Whether or not the trend intentionally meant to stir up dialogue about the importance of male friendships, it has.
The act of calling up a friend to check in, as a man, isn't a part of socialized norms, Ronald Levant, emeritus psychology professor at the University of Akron, told USA TODAY. It goes against masculine ideals, taught to boys in grade school, said the author of "The Tough Standard: The Hard Truths About Masculinity and Violence."
"I do think we give up a lot of comfort and health, actually, in not being more connected with people," Levant said.
While the trend may be seen as a joke to many, it can also serve as a reminder to men about the importance of re-evaluating ideals that may not be best serving them. Levant encouraged mind to take this time to think about masculine ideologies they were taught at a young age and be open to expressing vulnerability more genuinely.
"I can see how some men might (say), 'Eh, it started off as a spoof, but let's go with it and see where it goes,' and then them being pleasantly surprised by how it good it feels to check in with a friend or have a friend concerned about you," Levant said.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grown men wish their friends good night in new TikTok trend
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
41 minutes ago
- USA Today
Moo Deng is raising brows. See famous pygmy hippo's new look.
Moo Deng is raising brows. See famous pygmy hippo's new look. Moo Deng, just shy of her 1st birthday, lives at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. Show Caption Hide Caption Moo Deng debuts fancy, temporary eyebrows The famous pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, was munching on a tray of vegetables in her enclosure, when the keeper put pieces of leaves on her head. The world's favorite pygmy hippopotamus is stunning in a new, all-natural look. Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo who first stole hearts last summer, is going viral once again for videos and photos showing her sporting two green leaves as eyebrows, captured by zoo attendees on May 31. Watch the video above. Moo Deng is known for making a mess of her food dishes, stomping around and flinging platters full of veggies all over herself. But her new look was done on purpose. Moo Deng's zoo keeper at Khao Kheow Open Zoo told Newsflare that he placed the pieces of leaves on the hippo for a bit of fun, removing them later. Khao Kheow Open Zoo did not immediately respond for comment about the "eyebrows" when contacted by USA TODAY on June 5. More Moo Deng: Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet Animals: Why do we love Moo Deng, Pesto and other baby zoo animals? Psychologists explain Who is Moo Deng? Just shy of her first birthday (July 10), Moo Deng lives at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Bang Phra, Thailand. She gained popularity last summer for countless videos of her yelling at zoo keepers, resting in water buckets and enjoying baths in the sun. In Thai, Moo Deng's name means "bouncing pig." Born to Jona, 25, and Tony, 24, she has two siblings: Pork Stew and Sweet Pork. Moo Deng is also the granddaughter of Thailand's oldest hippo, Malee, who is 59 years old. What are pygmy hippos? Thought of as the smaller cousin, pygmy hippos are about half the size of common hippos, weighing less than one-fourth of a full-sized common hippo, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. Pygmies are native to West Africa and their average life expectancy is 27 years. In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A 1993 survey conducted by IUCN found that only about 2,000-3,000 pygmies remained worldwide. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
If You've Never Been A Dress Person, These 30 Options May Change Your Mind
A lantern sleeve mini I'm sure Belle would wear for a summertime jaunt to the library in 2025. A floral maxi dress can satisfy the Debbie Jellinsky part of your personal style. (Joan Cusack is such an icon in Addams Family Values). A floral mini dress if you've gotta look really cute, really fast after flying over The North Pole to get wherever you're vacationing. A long-sleeve boho dress to help you realize your easy-breezy spring style after you've been wrapped up in all sorts of cozy layers. A belted ruffled dress will help cut back on the math you have to do to figure out if a top will tuck neatly into a dress. This gives you that look for half the effort. A one-shouldered frock prime for that May wedding you've got on your schedule where you'll see a ton of old college buds and, therefore, will have a horde of pics from it after. A *pocketed* maxi will be super easy to wear, even if your plans for the day is to just roll around on the floor with the puppy. (Am I invited?) An easy, breezy patchwork mini dress to wear when you need to look cute but want the least amount of fabric possible touching your skin. A knee-length halter dress available in a range of colors and prints so you'll probably wanna snag a few for all kinds of seasonal photo ops. A floral midi built to impress — especially if a babydoll or nap dress shape isn't your thing. A drawstring bodycon dress with some major versatility — you can adjust the drawstring for the perfect length and look, then throw all kinds of outerwear over it as needed. (There are sooo many pregnant reviewers who love it!) A chic mini dress that reviewers say is lightweight and breathable, so it'll prob end up in the top of your rotation come late-sprint. A tiger-print dress passersby will assume you bought on a luxurious, tropical vacation. Go ahead. Let 'em assume. But then if they ask, be super helpful and point them to this Etsy shop chock full of dresses in glorious prints. A linen babydoll dress you can have custom-made to fit your measurements. Plus, that super cute low back will be the perfect excuse to go bra-less. Life is short. Bra bands are too tight. A halter-neck sundress in a maxi silhouette and a variety of patterns to help elevate your grand entrance — even if it's just popping in the store to buy some TP. A graphic maxi dress for a chic, dramatic statement. Pregnant *and* non-pregnant reviewers are raving about it! A wrap dress will let ya show lots of leg to the period piece beaus you're currently binge-watching. A cherry-picked frock in case you need yet another '90s-inspired thing in your closet. Yes, yes you do need it. Trust me, I bought it a few summers ago and have worn it at least a dozen times since. A midi corset dress that'll help scratch that cottagecore itch for the TikTok-famous House of CB Carmen dress. Except for nearly $200 less. A ladylike polka-dot number that tbh you could wear to brunch with your great-aunt and then out day-drinking with your roomies after. But it also has accommodating stretch, barely wrinkles, and will look so nice in any photos where you wanna look fab but don't wanna upstage your surroundings. A flowy boho style you'll get a ton of use out of in other seasons. It'll look equally amazing with cowboy boots or sandals. Cue to you in a piazza in Rome rocking this with your favorite accessory, a cone of gelato. A showstopping mesh dress you can use as a base for basically any special event's ensemble. Hello, Summer Goth. An airy nap dress I own and plan to wear as much as possible. It's super easy to adjust the puff sleeves from on- to off-the-shoulder to fit your mood. A tie-strap beaut in an ankle-grazing length for those moments when you've GOTTA stoop down and play with a puppy. This has you covered. A striped cap sleeve midi — it might be the next best (and comfiest) thing to wearing a night gown out and about. A floor-length gown will look soooo pretty whether you're wearing it as a bridesmaid in your friend's wedding or in impromptu photo shoot by your pal who just got a new camera. A casual striped option with some ruffled sleeves to make it feel a bit special but not super dressy. We're keeping it casual rn. A versatile tiered maxi dress to layer with your longer-sleeve tops so you can comfortably sit in your chilly office. A flared vintage-inspired dress you'll wanna buy after your next Hairspray is always a great idea. A pom-pom strap maxi for a stylish twist on the "nap dress" style we all rely on to keep us cool and chic when the sun starts to bake. Twirling in this is, in fact, mandatory, and lack of twirl is punishable by nap dress law.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Brian McKnight receives backlash for statement following estranged son's death
Brian McKnight addresses the narrative around his complex family dynamics and gives his side of the story. Brian McKnight has broken his silence following the death of his estranged son Niko McKnight, who died at 32 last week after a battle with cancer. However, the R&B singer's statement did not appear to hit the right note with fans. Tuesday evening, the 55-year-old singer took to Instagram to address his son's death and call out some of the narratives around his family dynamics being pushed by others online, in particular by his brother Claude McKnight, who was among the first to publicly announce Niko's death. 'A big big thanks to Claude McKnight's tasteless and self aggrandizing announcement on TikTok, that frankly was not his to make,' his lengthy post began both in the caption and as a voiceover in a video. 'In my opinion, he inserted himself and used Niko's death as an opportunity, instead of letting him pass with respect and dignity. It has instead turned into a circus, a mockery of a life now lost, making this tragedy into a reality show type drama.' After Niko died, McKnight said he and his family traveled to Maui to celebrate his life with a private memorial where they remembered 'all the good times' they shared. Then he recalled a not-so-rosy memory. 'The last time he and I spoke, we offered him all the help we could provide; we had the number one oncologist on deck for him and a team of specialists on standby with private care in our home. He and his mother declined,' McKnight claimed. 'The door of communication was open and remained open until his death.' The McKnight family's complex dynamics have been well known for years. In 2024, the singer made headlines when he referred to Niko and his siblings as 'products of sin' to justify distancing himself from his first four children upon remarrying. Niko, who was battling cancer at the time, pushed back against his father's statements on social media and highlighted past grievances and instances of hurt. His mother, McKnight's ex-wife, singer Julie McKnight, called the comments emotionally and mentally abusive. At the time, McKnight accused Julie of barring him from contributing to Niko's care, which she called a false narrative. Meanwhile, Niko posted on X that he just wanted to hear from his father during such a trying time. 'When I was about to die in the hospital from complications from my cancer, I just wanted to bury the hatchet and hear him say he loves me and he told me he couldn't arbitrarily tell me he loves me,' he posted. 'Still cuts so deep.' In his post on Tuesday, McKnight doubled down that he was denied the ability to help his son. 'To the self-proclaimed 'mama bear, ' may God have mercy on your soul for not allowing him to accept that help and not allowing him to use that line of communication,' he continued. 'There is great comfort in knowing God knows the TRUTH and the totality of the WHOLE story. I am truly thankful for the immense peace God has given me. I've left everything in HIS hands. I have a clear conscience. The only judgment that matters is God's.' Comments have been turned off on the post, though that hasn't stopped many from expressing their thoughts on the fraught statement. Many social media users have been calling out the statement for being more about McKnight than the actual tragedy, for putting down a mother mourning her son, and more. 'For everyone saying that we don't know the whole story, that's not the point,' wrote a user on Threads. 'The point is, his son just died of cancer, and he used this video to talk about himself and take shots at people – rather than expressing grief and celebrating his life. This video is literally about him, not Niko.' A user on X added, '…if you are speaking poorly on the mother of your child and blaming everyone else but yourself while your late son isn't even buried in the ground yet, I am wishing you the worst!' McKnight is a father of eight, including his biological and stepchildren. After sharing Brian Jr. and Niko with his ex-wife Julie, he also has a daughter, Briana McKnight, and another son, Clyde McKnight, from other past relationships. In 2017, he remarried to Dr. Leilani Malia Mendoza and has welcomed a son together in January 2023 named Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Jr. (The singer changed his legal name to match that of his most recent son.) The couple, unfortunately, experienced the loss of a child in infancy, and he is stepfather to Mendoza's two children from a previous relationship. More must-reads: 'Love Island USA' announces Yulissa Escobar is no longer a contestant after footage of her using a racist slur surfaces Michelle Obama is reclaiming her narrative—and her style—in her new book, 'The Look' 'She's trying to make her way': Obamas understands why Malia changed her name for her film career
