Men are wishing their friends ‘goodnight' on TikTok. It's more than a cute trend
There are murmurs of stifled laughter before a phone rings on loudspeaker. A man sits on a couch and sheepishly glances at the camera before his friend answers the call.
'I just had some dinner and was calling to tell you goodnight,' he says.
There's a brief pause before his friend bursts into laughter and confusion, asking 'what do you mean?'
The giggling continues, and the man reiterates his greeting. 'I'm just calling to say goodnight.'
'All right man, well goodnight,' his friend replies still laughing. 'That's really sweet of you, I hope you have a great night.'
With more than 2.8 million views, the video is part of a viral trend sweeping TikTok where men call their friends to say goodnight.
The reactions are varied, including genuine disbelief, confusion – and a lot of laughter. While the trend is slightly silly, it's also shone an important spotlight on men's mental health and the importance of reaching out and maintaining platonic friendships.
Dr Zac Seidler, a clinical psychologist and Movember's director of young men's health research, says the trend is a safe way for men to express their vulnerability.
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Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
SkinnyTok: How TikTok's latest trend is fuelling a new wave of diet culture
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illness. Followed categories will be added to My News. TikTok has long been a breeding ground for viral trends, but its latest subculture, 'SkinnyTok', is reigniting old diet culture in a digital age. Behind the trendy filters and catchy sounds lies an extremely problematic reality – a community where thinness is idolised, extreme calorie deficits are glamorised, and the pursuit of a shrinking body is celebrated, often at the expense of mental and physical health. The rise of SkinnyTok SkinnyTok refers to a corner of the internet where creators openly document their weight loss journeys, post 'what I eat in a day' videos featuring alarmingly low calorie counts, and share 'bodychecks' (videos where people weigh and measure themselves). Some even boast about 'gaslighting' themselves into being skinny, or confess to daily gym visits out of a fear of being 'fat' – even when they already fit society's narrow beauty standards. TikTok has, for their part, attempted to clamp down on this content. Searching for 'SkinnyTok' now triggers a warning: 'You're not alone' and prompts people to seek help if they're struggling with body image, food or exercise. Influencers like Liv Schmidt, who built a following of over 670,000 with her 'blonde and skinny' persona, have been banned. Yet, the algorithm still seems to serve up the very content it claims to protect users from. So, what can people do to safeguard themselves online? First, you need to understand what SkinnyTok is, how the trend has managed to gain such a huge following and who is the most at risk. The personal toll Jemma Haythorne, a confidence coach, speaker, and podcaster, knows first-hand the damage that online diet culture can do. 'I started hating my body when I was 12 years old, but really spiralled into disordered eating when I was 16. My friends and I would follow skinny content on Tumblr, using it as 'motivation' to eat less to achieve our goals of being thin,' she tells For Ms Haythorne, the pressure peaked during Schoolies, when the prospect of hundreds of Facebook photos led her to subsist on scarily low calories and avoid water to prevent 'bloating' – all ideas she picked up from social media. 'Instagram then became a dangerous place too for someone with body image issues and a fraught relationship with food,' she says, adding that the rise of fitness influencers and 'clean eating' trends was fuel for her already disordered behaviours. Jemma Haythorne says social media contributed to her eating disorder. Picture: Instagram/jaythorne Her lowest point came between 2017 and 2019. 'Social media told me that everyone was thin, gorgeous, tanned, hairless, toned and successful, because that's what the algorithm was serving me, and those were the people who were platformed,' she says. 'The message that I received was that I was failing, because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't meet those standards.' Ms Haythorne believes that without social media, she would never have developed an eating disorder, depression, and anxiety to the extent she did. The cyclical nature of online trends She says she has witnessed body ideals shift over the years, from ultra-thin, to athletic and toned, to the 'Kim Kardashian' hourglass, and now back to just 'plain thin'. Despite the rise of the body positivity movement, she's sceptical about its real-world impact: 'The body ideal has always come back to being in a smaller body — something that I desperately hope we can change in the future.' 'SkinnyTok' is a new social media trend amplifying often tabooed discussions around wanting to be skinny. Picture: iStock The influencer effect Influencers and content creators play a massive role in shaping body image perceptions, Ms Haythorne argues. 'Those who post content that encourages unhealthy relationships with food and bodies are directly damaging their audience. SkinnyTok content is incredibly problematic and harmful, and when this becomes trendy, it becomes dangerous, especially for those who don't have the knowledge and understanding of how damaging it is.' But the damage isn't always obvious. Seemingly innocuous 'before and after' photos reinforce the idea that smaller is better, while meal inspiration videos suggest that copying someone's diet will yield the same body. 'Any form of editing of bodies or faces makes people think they need to live up to looking like that in order to be beautiful or worthy, yet the person themselves doesn't even look like that,' she notes. She claims that while platforms like TikTok and Instagram have a responsibility to manage the harm they promote, individual influencers must also be aware of their impact. The psychological impact Psychologist Carly Dober confirms that SkinnyTok can trigger and exacerbate disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders. 'These trends influence how people perceive and evaluate their own bodies, and the bodies of others. Behaviourally, people may self-isolate, which can also impact their work, education and relationships,' she explains. Beyond the psychological impact, the physical consequences are dire too. Eating disorders can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth and mouth. Typical serious side effects include low blood pressure, slow or irregular heartbeats, feeling tired, weak, dizzy, or faint, constipation and bloating, irregular periods, and weak bones. Experts have warned against the dangers of SkinnyTok. Picture: iStock Who's most at risk? According to Ms Dober, certain groups are especially vulnerable to the dangers of SkinnyTok. These include: – Adolescents (especially those aged 12–25) with a median age of 18 – Women during key transition periods (e.g. finishing school) – Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or diabetes – Athletes and those in appearance-focused activities like dancing – People with a family history of eating disorders – Anyone seeking help for weight loss or who has engaged in dieting or disordered eating The role of TikTok's culture Qualified nutritionist Yaz Jackson sees SkinnyTok as part of a broader trend of 'normalising' harmful behaviours on TikTok. She notes that TikTok's culture is different from Instagram's: 'You can 'get away' with more. It's more of a diary, people feel like they can say whatever, and it's lighthearted and nobody judges. I've seen creators say things like 'I could never share this on Insta, they'd judge me, but I can tell you guys''. Ms Jackson believes there's a trend of radical honesty emerging on TikTok, where creators are praised for sharing 'the tea' – the secrets behind their appearance, whether it's the use of medication, diets or cosmetic surgery. Their content is being favoured, as people applaud them for being 'real' and 'not fake' – i.e. unlike the countless models and celebrities who pretend they eat pizza and burgers when the reality is much different. 'This trend then gains traction because when enough people make something okay to talk about again, they feel safer,' she said. 'Things that were once stigmatised, are now being accepted – but only if you are super honest and transparent about it. People love that'. There are things you can do to safeguard your mental health online. Picture: iStock The dangers of unqualified advice Dr Zac, a GP, urges people to exercise caution when seeking health advice online, especially when it comes from unqualified creators. 'Health advice should come from qualified professionals – doctors, registered dietitians, clinical psychologists – people with actual credentials, not just abs and a ring light. If someone's offering drastic weight loss 'hacks' or pushing extreme transformations, especially if they're profiting from it, be wary,' he says. Things to look out for include: 'Are they citing evidence-based sources? Do they promote balance over extremes? Are they championing sustainable health, or quick fixes and aesthetic perfection?' How to safeguard your mental health Ms Dober and Dr Zac recommend several strategies for protecting yourself online: Curate your feed: Block or mute content and creators that promote unhealthy behaviours Use platform tools: Filter out triggering keywords where possible Limit screen time: Reduce endless scrolling to avoid algorithm rabbit holes Follow positive accounts: Such as ones that promote body neutrality, mental health and self-compassion Seek support: If you're struggling, reach out to a psychologist or trusted professional. And as Dr Zac puts it: 'Healing starts when we stop punishing ourselves and start listening to what our body and mind actually need'. Originally published as SkinnyTok: TikTok's latest trend is fuelling a new wave of diet culture
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
SkinnyTok: TikTok's latest trend is fuelling a new wave of diet culture
TikTok has long been a breeding ground for viral trends, but its latest subculture, 'SkinnyTok', is reigniting old diet culture in a digital age. Behind the trendy filters and catchy sounds lies an extremely problematic reality – a community where thinness is idolised, extreme calorie deficits are glamorised, and the pursuit of a shrinking body is celebrated, often at the expense of mental and physical health. The rise of SkinnyTok SkinnyTok refers to a corner of the internet where creators openly document their weight loss journeys, post 'what I eat in a day' videos featuring alarmingly low calorie counts, and share 'bodychecks' (videos where people weigh and measure themselves). Some even boast about 'gaslighting' themselves into being skinny, or confess to daily gym visits out of a fear of being 'fat' – even when they already fit society's narrow beauty standards. TikTok has, for their part, attempted to clamp down on this content. Searching for 'SkinnyTok' now triggers a warning: 'You're not alone' and prompts people to seek help if they're struggling with body image, food or exercise. Influencers like Liv Schmidt, who built a following of over 670,000 with her 'blonde and skinny' persona, have been banned. Yet, the algorithm still seems to serve up the very content it claims to protect users from. So, what can people do to safeguard themselves online? First, you need to understand what SkinnyTok is, how the trend has managed to gain such a huge following and who is the most at risk. The personal toll Jemma Haythorne, a confidence coach, speaker, and podcaster, knows first-hand the damage that online diet culture can do. 'I started hating my body when I was 12 years old, but really spiralled into disordered eating when I was 16. My friends and I would follow skinny content on Tumblr, using it as 'motivation' to eat less to achieve our goals of being thin,' she tells For Ms Haythorne, the pressure peaked during Schoolies, when the prospect of hundreds of Facebook photos led her to subsist on scarily low calories and avoid water to prevent 'bloating' – all ideas she picked up from social media. 'Instagram then became a dangerous place too for someone with body image issues and a fraught relationship with food,' she says, adding that the rise of fitness influencers and 'clean eating' trends was fuel for her already disordered behaviours. Her lowest point came between 2017 and 2019. 'Social media told me that everyone was thin, gorgeous, tanned, hairless, toned and successful, because that's what the algorithm was serving me, and those were the people who were platformed,' she says. 'The message that I received was that I was failing, because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't meet those standards.' Ms Haythorne believes that without social media, she would never have developed an eating disorder, depression, and anxiety to the extent she did. The cyclical nature of online trends She says she has witnessed body ideals shift over the years, from ultra-thin, to athletic and toned, to the 'Kim Kardashian' hourglass, and now back to just 'plain thin'. Despite the rise of the body positivity movement, she's sceptical about its real-world impact: 'The body ideal has always come back to being in a smaller body — something that I desperately hope we can change in the future.' The influencer effect Influencers and content creators play a massive role in shaping body image perceptions, Ms Haythorne argues. 'Those who post content that encourages unhealthy relationships with food and bodies are directly damaging their audience. SkinnyTok content is incredibly problematic and harmful, and when this becomes trendy, it becomes dangerous, especially for those who don't have the knowledge and understanding of how damaging it is.' But the damage isn't always obvious. Seemingly innocuous 'before and after' photos reinforce the idea that smaller is better, while meal inspiration videos suggest that copying someone's diet will yield the same body. 'Any form of editing of bodies or faces makes people think they need to live up to looking like that in order to be beautiful or worthy, yet the person themselves doesn't even look like that,' she notes. She claims that while platforms like TikTok and Instagram have a responsibility to manage the harm they promote, individual influencers must also be aware of their impact. The psychological impact Psychologist Carly Dober confirms that SkinnyTok can trigger and exacerbate disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders. 'These trends influence how people perceive and evaluate their own bodies, and the bodies of others. Behaviourally, people may self-isolate, which can also impact their work, education and relationships,' she explains. Beyond the psychological impact, the physical consequences are dire too. Eating disorders can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth and mouth. Typical serious side effects include low blood pressure, slow or irregular heartbeats, feeling tired, weak, dizzy, or faint, constipation and bloating, irregular periods, and weak bones. Who's most at risk? According to Ms Dober, certain groups are especially vulnerable to the dangers of SkinnyTok. These include: – Adolescents (especially those aged 12–25) with a median age of 18 – Women during key transition periods (e.g. finishing school) – Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or diabetes – Athletes and those in appearance-focused activities like dancing – People with a family history of eating disorders – Anyone seeking help for weight loss or who has engaged in dieting or disordered eating The role of TikTok's culture Qualified nutritionist Yaz Jackson sees SkinnyTok as part of a broader trend of 'normalising' harmful behaviours on TikTok. She notes that TikTok's culture is different from Instagram's: 'You can 'get away' with more. It's more of a diary, people feel like they can say whatever, and it's lighthearted and nobody judges. I've seen creators say things like 'I could never share this on Insta, they'd judge me, but I can tell you guys''. Ms Jackson believes there's a trend of radical honesty emerging on TikTok, where creators are praised for sharing 'the tea' – the secrets behind their appearance, whether it's the use of medication, diets or cosmetic surgery. Their content is being favoured, as people applaud them for being 'real' and 'not fake' – i.e. unlike the countless models and celebrities who pretend they eat pizza and burgers when the reality is much different. 'This trend then gains traction because when enough people make something okay to talk about again, they feel safer,' she said. 'Things that were once stigmatised, are now being accepted – but only if you are super honest and transparent about it. People love that'. The dangers of unqualified advice Dr Zac, a GP, urges people to exercise caution when seeking health advice online, especially when it comes from unqualified creators. 'Health advice should come from qualified professionals – doctors, registered dietitians, clinical psychologists – people with actual credentials, not just abs and a ring light. If someone's offering drastic weight loss 'hacks' or pushing extreme transformations, especially if they're profiting from it, be wary,' he says. Things to look out for include: 'Are they citing evidence-based sources? Do they promote balance over extremes? Are they championing sustainable health, or quick fixes and aesthetic perfection?' How to safeguard your mental health Ms Dober and Dr Zac recommend several strategies for protecting yourself online: Curate your feed: Block or mute content and creators that promote unhealthy behaviours Use platform tools: Filter out triggering keywords where possible Limit screen time: Reduce endless scrolling to avoid algorithm rabbit holes Follow positive accounts: Such as ones that promote body neutrality, mental health and self-compassion Seek support: If you're struggling, reach out to a psychologist or trusted professional. And as Dr Zac puts it: 'Healing starts when we stop punishing ourselves and start listening to what our body and mind actually need'.
Courier-Mail
14 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
‘Accidents happen': Fans in hysterics over Cotton On jeans
Don't miss out on the headlines from Designers. Followed categories will be added to My News. A pair of jeans from Cotton On are going viral because of a questionable design detail that's been described as 'fart fashion' and compared to a bathroom mishap. It all began after TikTok user Adele shared a now-viral video, which has amassed 1.6 million views, showing herself browsing the denim section at a Cotton On store. The clip zooms in on a pair of blue jeans featuring brown stains across the front and back. Adele wrote over the clip, 'What was Cotton On thinking?' Her caption said, 'Someone had an accident', which quickly set the tone for thousands of comments. Jeans become butt of the joke One user joked that Cotton On was now selling pants that have been 'pre-sh*t' in, so you 'no longer need to sh*t them yourself'. Another person said they looked like 'quite the mess', one thought they were 'ew', and someone else declared 'they're so ugly'. Even Cotton On staff weighed in, with one admitting, 'as an employee … we also hate these jeans'. 'So you're telling me I could have accidentally slipped in mud, put my jeans on that pile, and get money for it?' another user asked, as a different person replied: 'Yes, because we absolutely want to look like we just had explosive diarrhoea in our jeans'. 'Run, don't walk … to the toilet,' another quipped. Fans are in hysterics over these Cotton On jeans. Picture: TikTok/@adelesspammo People think they look like someone has had a bathroom mishap. Picture: Cotton On High fashion as inspo Crudeness aside, the jeans appear to be a budget-friendly 'dupe' of a high-end pair from cult label Acne Studios. The original, the Distressed Organic Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans, retail for a staggering $1470 and is described by luxury retailer Net-a-Porter as 'intentional distressing … creating jeans that look as though they've been worn and loved for years'. Meanwhile, Cotton On's version, the Low Rise Straight Jean, is priced at $69.99, which is a fraction of the designer price tag. The Acne Studios jeans ($1470). Picture: TikTok/@adelesspammo The Cotton On jeans ($69.99). Picture: TikTok/@adelesspammo Fashion expert weighs in Fashion stylist Donny Galella told that it's not unusual for brands like Cotton On to offer affordable versions of premium designs. 'We are living in dupe culture world,' he said. 'Acne is definitely one of the world's hottest brands but given the cost of living crisis, many people don't have a spare $1400 laying around for a dirty looking pair of jeans. Especially for a 'trend' style pair of jeans that will have a short shelf life'. Mr Galella's advice is to 'invest that money into a more classic style pair of jeans that will be much more versatile and have a much longer shelf life'. has reached out to Cotton On for comment. Originally published as 'Accidents happen': Fans in hysterics over Cotton On jeans
