People Are Calling Out Popular Internet Trends That Need To Stop ASAP, And Yikes

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the popular internet trends that need to stop because they're actually toxic — and of course, they didn't hold back. Here are the eye-opening results:
1."Any health trend started on or perpetuated by TikTok, Instagram, and the like. And a 'nutritionist' is not the same as a dietician. Dieticians are medically trained and regulated."
—funnylittlemanat
2."Anything on CleanTok. People who were never taught to clean are being taken advantage of by people who were also never taught to clean and just mix everything because 'ooh, pretty colors' gets all the views. Someone is going to f---ing mustard gas themselves, either making one of these videos or following the video. Stop. Mixing. Chemicals."
—lobster_lemon_lime
3."Cleaning 'experts' sprinkling baking soda on everything and vacuuming it up! Stop that! You're destroying the motor in your vacuum! Baking soda has superfine particles that even the best filters can't handle and cause serious wear and tear on the vacuum motor. Not to mention, you'll NEVER get it all up, only adding to the dust and debris in your air. Want to clean fabric, upholstery, and mattress? Use an appropriate liquid spray designed for that purpose and stop punishing your vacuum!"
—Anonymous, 44, Colorado
4."Filming yourself working out at the gym. People in the background don't want to be recorded. They didn't give consent, and it's violating their privacy. If you are going to film yourself, do it at home or in a private gym area with NO ONE in the background. I would be so embarrassed if I saw someone filming themselves, and I'm in the background."
—Anonymous, 32, California
5."Skincare and tanning. Forcing young girls to be overly self-conscious about their very normal functions, such as pimples and aging, just makes me sick. And tanning just leads to sunburn 9 times out of 10."
—Anonymous, Massachusetts
6."Prank channels! Not even touching on the family ones that can cause trauma to the children's social lives and mental health, but some people don't realize they are staged, thinking they can replicate them. Whether it's public pranks on strangers or at home, the person being pranked can respond unpredictably, harming themselves or others. Just not worth it."
—Anonymous, 31, Texas
Related: 13 Tweets From Women This Week That Made Me Laugh So Hard I Might Need Medical Attention
7."These huge hauls! I would see boxes on boxes, and they aren't from PRs! I remember watching one influencer buy 30 bikinis for a 'summer haul,' and not only that, I would see huge bags of stuff, and the caption might say 'mini haul.' This pressures people to spend a whole lot of money to live off this 'lifestyle.'"
—2stepsahead
8."Definitely the shopping hauls AND everything being an ad — whether or not it's even announced. I often watch what my 9-year-old daughter wants to on YouTube, and we have in-depth discussions about how this video or that one is an ad. We also talk about consumerism and how, unfortunately, for her YouTube-loving self, she has a momma who isn't into all that!"
—Anonymous, 42, Montana
9."Rage-bait videos for clicks — especially ones that involve 'cooking.' I hate when people make videos with the intent of pissing people off just to increase engagement on their posts. It's extra infuriating when they waste a ton of food in the interest of getting people to comment on their 'techniques.' Such a waste."
—Anonymous, 40, Pennsylvania
Related: "Something's Killed Me. Please, Someone Tell My Parents": 19 Terrifying Stories From People Who Lived In Haunted Houses That Are Gonna Give Me Serious Nightmares
10."Filming strangers without their consent. I see TikTok videos of people filming strangers and romanticising it. People are just going about their day, waiting at the bus stop, sitting in the park, having coffee with a friend, or even CHILDREN — but some weirdo is filming them from a distance. I would hate if I opened TikTok and saw a video of me just walking down the street. I'd be like???? It's not aesthetic and cute; it's creepy and giving stalker."
—Anonymous, 26, Australia
"Don't film or photograph people in public just trying to live their life. Last year at the train station, I committed the unspeakable crime of eating Doritos on the platform while I waited, and I realized a pack of 11-year-old girls were filming me and laughing. Like, WTF? OK, so I may not be particularly cute or stylish, maybe I'm a bit chunky and didn't necessarily need the Doritos, but I'm just sitting over here minding my business. Now, I am super self-conscious when I go out without my husband: Are my roots too gray? Does this top fit weird? I should wait until I get home to have a snack. And even if it's not happening to me, I hate seeing it happen to others. Like that jerk who posted a woman in the locker room because she...used the locker room to change her clothes? Or someone posting another person's pic when they are doing their Tesco shopping because they are wearing something unusual. The whole trend drives me mad."
—Anonymous, 43, England
11."Stupid TikTok 'challenges' that disrupt schools. Half of them are flat-out encouraging crime. Destroy the bathroom? That's destruction of property. Punch a teacher? Assault. Chromebook? Destruction of property, possibly arson, and willful endangerment. I'm trying to teach, not be the potty police, a punching bag, or a firefighter."
—Anonymous, 30s, Ohio
12."Family vlogging channels. You're putting kids under the pressure of the internet when they're too young to choose otherwise. It turns the parent-child dynamic into a transactional one, where the inner lives of these children are exposed for clout, and parents are rewarded for using their kids. I can't imagine how those kids would feel once grown, but it can't be good."
—Anonymous, 21, Washington
13."Filming yourself ALL THE TIME! I'm tired of all the 'vlogs' on social media. I don't need to watch someone's day in a life or 'get ready with me.' What is the purpose of filming yourself all day and posting everything on social media? No one is that interested. Bye!"
—Anonymous
14."Developing disturbingly strong parasocial relationships that are filling the space in your heart where actual, personal relationships used to go. We're connecting to the wrong people."
—putzik47
15."Filming yourself crying. Why do you want to have evidence of yourself ugly-crying? Then posting the videos feels like fishing for attention, and it's obnoxious."
—Anonymous, 27, Idaho
16."AI meme videos. They keep causing more brain rot and even shorter attention spans. Technology has fried our brains, and we all need a cleanse from this type of content online. It's caused us to be less social as a whole. Sure, there's convenience, but what else is this doing to benefit humanity? I don't think a low-quality image of a shark with Nike shoes saying random Italian words is doing much for society now, is it?"
—Anonymous, 17, Florida
And finally...
17."Couple vlogging. Especially if you're relying on profiting off it; if things go south, you either stay with a toxic partner or risk losing your income. Also, the oversharing is uncomfortable to me, and the whole thing feels performative and strange. But ultimately, to each their own."
—Anonymous
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Yikes. Well, do you agree with these? What are some other viral internet trends that are actually toxic? Tell us in the comments, or use this anonymous form below.
Also in Internet Finds: The History We're Taught Is Wildly Sanitized, So Here 28 Disturbing Historical Events Everyone Should Be Aware Of
Also in Internet Finds: People Who Never Believed In The Supernatural Are Revealing What Made Them Change Their Minds, And I'm Terrified
Also in Internet Finds: 50 People Who Woke Up One Morning Over The Past Month And Accidentally Destroyed Their Entire Lives

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Geek Tyrant

24 minutes ago

• Geek Tyrant

The Most Terrifying Creepypasta Stories Revisited in Nostalgic Video Breakdown — GeekTyrant

If you were an internet kid in the early 2010s, chances are you had a phase where creepypasta stories kept you up at night, and Trust Me Bro dropped a video that captures that era perfectly. In his animated retrospective, he revisits seven of the most haunting creepypastas from his childhood, weaving them together with personal memories of sleepovers, dimly lit computer screens, and that specific kind of fear only the internet could provide. 'In this video, I reflect on creepypastas that terrified us as kids. I also dive deep into 7 original creepy pastas that were scary, terrifying, and dark to say the least. In each segment I summarize the creepypasta, reflect on how well it was written, and discuss its cultural significance.' Each entry is more than just a surface-level retelling, it's a meditation on how these eerie tales shaped a generation's relationship with horror. Of course, no list would be complete without Slender Man topping the charts. 'This is probably the only creeppasta on the list that your mom has a good chance of recognizing due to the mass amount of Halloween costumes and just popular media and if you haven't guessed it yet, I'm of course talking about the Slenderman.' The video's strength lies in its mix of nostalgia, critique, and genuine admiration for the genre. Whether you're revisiting these digital campfire tales or discovering them for the first time, it's a fascinating watch that captures the strange, spooky power of internet storytelling.

New York Post

35 minutes ago

• New York Post

Nightlife-hating Gen Z now planning morning raves with espresso shots — and no tequila

From the moment you turn 18, your one desire is supposed to be going out and partying. Getting ready to go out with your friends, spending a day's wages on vodka, lemon, lime and bitters, and dancing to your heart's content until it's time to get the last train home is a fond – if distorted – memory for those who've left that phase of their lives in the past. But, it seems Gen Z-ers have entered their 'grandma' phase a little early, swapping late nights for early mornings and alcohol for coffee in a shocking twist that's left millennials calling them (i.e. us) boring. Morning raves, it's a thing! If you haven't seen the reports of a decline in alcohol consumption among Gen Z-ers, you may have noticed an increase in non-alcoholic drinks at your local bottlo or pub. Gen Z is now hosting raves in the early hours of the morning. TikTok/@nikitadunne6 There's also been a steady decrease in the number of music festivals happening, with some of the most iconic events, like Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo and Spilt Milk cancelling in recent years due to low ticket sales, or an inability to score those big acts on an already stretched budget. Blame it on the pandemic or the cost of living crisis. Regardless, it's become very clear – Gen Z just doesn't want to party. Well, unless it's in the morning, apparently. The popularity of morning raves is officially on the rise – fueled by coffee and matcha instead of Cruisers and tequila shots. Morning raves are pretty much exactly what you're probably picturing them to be. You can go and get your morning coffee, except there will also be a DJ. Think, a louder and, in my opinion, way more fun, version of the morning run club or swim at the beach that every Sydneysider seems to be into these days. These morning raves are being held all over the world, and are now taking Australia by storm. Caffeine Club is one company running morning raves across Queensland, with events starting from 7am. Mix and Matcha is another group holding events out of cafes in Melbourne. Is it cool, or a total snoozefest? All the fun without the hangover sounds like a solid day out to me. And, it seems young people agree, with events selling out and garnering rave reviews. 'Hahah this is iconicccc!!' said one commenter on TikTok. 'Like having your morning dance party with a bunch of other crazy humans. Keep it uppp guys!' 'Hahah this is iconicccc!!' said one commenter on TikTok. TikTok/@nikitadunne6 'This is sick!!!!' said another. 'This is my kind of club!' a third agreed. But, it's clear not everyone agrees. One Caffeine Club video went viral earlier this year, and garnered a few millennial hate comments. 'And the crowd goes mild,' one person said. 'Nice, but this is not a rave,' said another.

USA Today

an hour ago

• USA Today

Jussie Smollett reveals he's engaged to actor Jabari Redd: 'He said YES'

Jussie Smollett celebrated his birthday as an engaged man. The former "Empire" star, 43, revealed in an Instagram post that he is engaged to actor Jabari Redd. Smollett shared a gallery of photos showing himself down on one knee and presenting a ring to Redd, who looked elated. "I'll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé … He said YES. 💍," Smollett, who turned 43 on Saturday, June 21, wrote in the caption. Redd has appeared on shows like Showtime's "The Chi" and starred in "The Lost Holliday," a 2024 film directed by and starring Smollett. Smollett's sister Jurnee Smollett celebrated his engagement in the comments of the Instagram post, writing that she was "screaming with tears of joy!" She added that "my whole heart loves both of you" and welcomed Redd "to the family." Smollett's sister Jazz Smollett also commented, "Yaaaass!!! Welcome to the family Jabari!!! Love y'all!! Sooooo happy for you both." Jussie Smollett conviction in hate crime hoax overturned by Illinois Supreme Court The engagement news comes more than six years after Smollett was accused of staging a fake hate crime against himself in 2019. He claimed at the time that he was attacked by men who yelled homophobic slurs at him in Chicago. Jussie Smollett says he has 'to move forward' after alleged hate crime hoax Smollett was charged with lying to police about the attack, and he was convicted of felony disorderly conduct in 2021. But in November 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction, determining that he should not have been charged a second time for the same incident after charges against him were initially dropped in 2019. Smollett has repeatedly denied staging the hate crime and has maintained that the attack was real. Smollett reached a civil settlement with the city of Chicago earlier this year, according to NBC News. In a statement released on Instagram, the actor said he would pay $50,000 to a local nonprofit. "What I have to do now is move forward," he said. "I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth." Smollett previously told People magazine in an interview in September 2024, "I've moved on and I know that the world, one day, and it might be long after I'm gone, who knows, but one day the world is going to fix this. I just can't wait for that to happen because I have a life to live. But the world is going to fix it all."