A surreal TikTok trend sees the chronically online bringing meme culture into the real world, and the results are hilarious. 

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The trend involves people approaching strangers in public and showing them printed folders full of brainrot memes and images, including John Pork and Skibidi Toilet.

As always, reactions from members of the public vary, with some appearing confused and only playing along out of politeness, while others seem to genuinely appreciate the community and joy.

What does the “Showing brainrot to strangers” TikTok trend involve?

The “showing brainrot to strangers” trend involves approaching unsuspecting members of the public, especially those who look particularly offline, such as locals and the elderly. Common locations include supermarkets, clothing stores or outdoors in the street.

The person filming pulls out a folder or handful of printed out brain rot images only recognizable to those of us who never touch grass—such as AI pigfluencer John Pork, FreakBob, and Italian brainrot icons Tung Tung Tung Sahur or Tralalero Tralala (the Annoying Orange also sometimes makes an appearance, to many people’s annoyance; his pre-slop era age arguably makes him proto-brainrot at best.) 

Strangers then respond to the bizarre images, with their reactions, of course, uploaded to TikTok.

A typical example would be this video by user @jaxdomm—a notable player in popularizing the trend—which has accumulated over 1.29M views. In the video, OP shows an older man a folder full of brainrot as he shops in a grocery store.

@jaxdomm Nod and smile grandpa #huzz #rizz #brainrot #alpha #sigma #raybanmeta #fyp ♬ Silent Hill – Horror Music – Gabriel Andrade Produções

“Nice,” the man says awkwardly, nodding throughout despite looking slightly perturbed. 

“Historians are definitely skipping us,” wrote RICKY in the comments.

“Just nod and smile grandpa,” added someone else.

Another similar example by the same TikTok user shows an elderly woman also politely smiling and laughing as she is shown the folder. “Oh my goodness, very good!” she repeats over and over.

@jaxdomm Miss giggles a lot #huzz #rizz #brainrot #alpha #sigma #raybanmeta #walmart #fyp ♬ Silent Hill – Horror Music – Gabriel Andrade Produções

“Granny has great survival instincts,” wrote Ilovemikefaist3, while sauze commented, “She spamming the same emote.”

“When ur friends show u their camera roll,” someone else added.

How people are reacting

Although the primary reaction seems to be one of confusion and forced politeness at such a bizarre interaction, not everyone behaves the same way. Some examples, such as this group of men from the United Arab Emirates, or these workers in a UK Greggs, show strangers joining in with the memes and laughing, getting their friends’ attention to also involve them in the banter. 

One of the most memorable was this iconic older woman, also approached while grocery shopping. 

@jaxdomm She was hilarious #huzz #rizz #brainrot #alpha #sigma #raybanmeta #walmart #fyp ♬ Silent Hill – Horror Music – Gabriel Andrade Produções

“Is that Anthony?” she questions, misreading the Answer button on FreakBob’s call, before declaring “They all look like aliens to me!”

“Thank you, that was fun,” she concludes at the end.

“Best person on the show so far,” said Felipe Mahalem while Austin wrote, “The way she was just vibing, I know her grandkids love her.”

Where did the trend come from, and why is it so popular?

The trend originated with (or at least become popularized by) @jaxdomm, who has over 140,000 followers and describes himself as a “Brainrot Bandit.”

He seems to have originated the standard video format, as well as tying it to the sound “Never Forgive Me, Never Forget Me” by Akira Yamaoka (from the Silent Hill 3 soundtrack), a popular sound often heard in dark/analog horror YouTube content.

“Showing brainrot to strangers” has connections with other similar trends that involve blending the online and offline worlds—such as this variation where people are asked to read out Gen Alpha/brainrot words like “skibidi sigma ohio rizzler.”

It could also be seen as an evolution of Gen Alpha TikTok trends in general, which, for better or worse, involve filming the public and treating them as “NPCs”—though these at least seemed to have veered more positively in recent years, after vocal online criticism.

As for what the purpose is, in a video for YouTube, Know Your Meme declared that the trend was all about causing confusion, however admitted that it sometimes also resulted in “wholesome moments” that led to increased feelings of connection and community. 

“The images seem to spread cheer, but also, of course, they’re rotting people’s brains,” they say. “There’s truly no better way to connect with your community than by making everyone as dumb as you are.”

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A viral TikTok video has reignited speculation that the U.S. car market is heading toward a crash.

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Brandon (@the1mr_gratitude), who regularly shares financial and life advice with his 376,000 followers, claims dealership lots are overflowing with unsold cars, financing rates are unusually low, and buyers could score discounts as high as 40%.

But while his video quickly spread across TikTok and X, experts and everyday commenters remain divided, raising the question of whether these are real warning signs or just another case of viral financial fearmongering.

What was Brandon’s take?

In his recent trending video, Brandon, who claims to “work with dealers nationwide”, told 460,000 viewers what he believes are the key signs that a car market crash is underway.

First, he explained that across the country, car dealership lots are becoming overfilled because cars aren’t selling, signalling the biggest decline in at least 5 years. “They’re sitting on lots an average of over 120 days and we have not seen that since pre-Covid,” he clarified.

Secondly, he went on to explain that manufacturers were offering 0 to 2% finance on cars right now—again, a record amount since COVID. He then urged his viewers to check car aggregate sites, such as Car Gurus and Car Edge, to see how long cars have been sitting unsold on lots, and use this to negotiate discounts as high as 40%.

“That way when you get to the dealership you can call them out on their BS,” he concluded.

@the1mr_gratitude Car Lots Are OVERFLOWING… The Crash Is Here#news #newcar #money #foryou #cars ♬ Manifestation – Perfect, so dystopian

Commenters were divided in their responses, with many expressing disbelief at Brandon’s takes.

“What crash? They’re asking 50 to 60 thousand for a Tacoma,” wrote EskimoinOhio.

“Might be overflowing but the prices are not going down,” added someone else.

Others expressed that costs of living were so high that even thinking about buying a more basic car was out of the question—and even those who could afford it would not do it on finance.

“Ppl can’t afford food and electricity, much less new cars,” said reddogforge.

The discourse continued over on X, where a repost of Brandon’s video from Sept. 24, 2025 received over 563K views. Here, people were equally unimpressed—calling into question the self-declared expert’s murky credentials.

“If there are so many cars on the lot how come they keep begging me to sell them my used car?” Bobby Made Birdie asked.

“He has no data. We are supposed to just believe a dude ranting in his car in a baseball hat?,” questioned someone else.

Who is Brandon, and is he a reliable source?

This isn’t the first time Brandon has raised eyebrows over his car advice. In 2024, another of his videos went viral after he told viewers never to make a down payment when purchasing a vehicle—advice that the Daily Dot fact checked and found to be well-meaning but flawed. We also found no direct information linking him to a car dealership network.

We’ve done the same again regarding Brandon’s latest claims to provide accurate information for anyone contemplating buying a car in the current market.

Brandon’s take 1: Lots at car dealerships are becoming overfilled with unsold cars across the country at rates not seen since the pandemic. This is proof that the market is in decline. Brandon says the average amount of time cars are sitting unsold is 120 days. 

Fact check 1: According to data from Black Book, via CarandDriver, models from premier brands like Lincoln, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz are sitting on dealers’ lots for an average of 110 days or longer— meaning there’s a good chance plenty are exceeding Brandon’s 120-day claim.

Black Book also says that sales are consistently down versus 2017-19 numbers. However, correlation isn’t necessarily causation. Cars can remain unsold for a multitude of reasons, from manufacturers dumping large inventories on dealerships to consumer behaviors.

For example, there may be a mismatch in demand for some cars in regions where they aren’t as popular, or consumers may want to wait for newer models to drop, causing a lag in sales of older cars. 

Brandon’s take 2: Brandon claims that manufacturers are increasingly offering cars on 0-2% finance, signalling declining sales. Once again, he claims this hasn’t been since Covid. 

Fact check 2: Car Edge does show that, as of Sept. 2025, some companies including GM, Jeep, and Nissan, are offering cars on 0% finance. However, these deals seem to be more common on electric vehicles than regular models.

When conducting our fact check, we found that in general, it was much more common for interest rates to sit at around 4-6%, though they do vary by lender. This is nowhere near as close to Covid levels, either, where terms were also longer—typically extending up to 84 months—whereas now most seem to sit at around 36 to 60 months. 

So, although Brandon is right to some extent, his claims seem to be slightly sensationalized.

Brandon’s take 3: If you want to find out how long a car has been sitting in a lot, you can check a car aggregate site like Car Gurus or Car Edge. These sites provide information on how long cars have been at the dealership. You can then use this information to bargain for a better deal. 

Fact check 3: Car aggregate sites do show approximate estimates, but with a caveat. On CarEdge, each listing displays a “Days on Market” number, detailing how long the car has been there. However, there is some confusion over when this number is calculated from, with an admin stating that sometimes it includes vehicle production and transit time, before it has even arrived on the lot. This could unfairly affect import models in particular, due to longer transit times.

So feel free to use car aggregate sites to get a rough idea of timings, with the understanding that this might not be entirely precise. And as for whether this can be used to leverage, it will depend on the dealership, but always come prepared with as much information as possible to help your case.

As for whether Brandon was right about a broader market crash being underway, the data isn’t 100% clear yet. While things are certainly slowing down, 2025 was still one of the better years for car sales since 2019.

There are also other factors at play that Brandon doesn’t cover. For example, Kelley Blue Book points out a slowing in EV sales in particular, as early adoption reaches saturation, which could be impacting the overall trends. So while Brandon has the right idea, it’s worth remembering that the car market is complex, and can’t be reduced to just two or three factors. 

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“Who? Why sardines?”

The nautical theme of 2025 has laser-focused on an unexpected fishy theme that has TikTokers confused about all the sardines.

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Suddenly, sardines are everywhere, and no one can figure out exactly why.

@holxbeauty I don’t get it #sardines #sardine ♬ suono originale – AIVIDEO

This must have something to do with those lobster beaded bags from April.

What’s with all the sardines?

Starting in May, sardine prints and decor began to flood store shelves, online shops, and social media. Stores like Urban Outfitters, West Elm, and Anthropologie still have sardine sections up online full of striped fabrics and tin cans.

As the summer wore on, TikTok users started to openly wonder why these little fish have been everywhere all season. Nobody saw the sardine summer coming, and even among those who like it, few appear to get it.

@steph_unnie

LITERALLY WHY SARDINES???

♬ Lucifer’s Waltz – Secession Studios

“Whose great idea was it in the year of 2025 to make all home decor pieces sardine themed?” asked @steph_unnie back in July. “Who? Why sardines?”

Many commenters responded with images of seals, suggesting some kind of great seal conspiracy to push the sardine aesthetic.

Others remembered that random animal decor trends are cyclical, pointing to the love of ducks and roosters from past generations.

By why sardines, and why now? Some think that the inexpensive, often canned fish may serve as yet another recession indicator. There have been multiple signals that younger generations are casting off flashy fashion for a simpler lifestyle, and sardines fit perfectly.

“Sardines are a very humble fish,” Oxford University Professor of Italian Cultural History Guido Bonsaver told USA Today. He theorizes that they symbolize the ability to embrace a frugal existence, “and be happy with it. Not take it as a failure, but as a new dimension in which you find a smaller place to be happy.”

Tomatoes and nautical bags

Simple, quaint themes have extended beyond the cheap little fish. The coming warm season brought along with it a deep need for beaded bags sporting lobsters and other nautical items back in April. TikTokers were offering their kidneys for specific bags from Marshall’s carrying little sea creatures, including sardines.

This extended into an entire “fisherman aesthetic” that Pinterest users predicted in late 2024. Long rubber boots and overalls became a fashion statement. Things got weird.

To go with sardines, of course, you need tomatoes. In May, Bath & Body Works started promoting a “tomato girl fantasy.” This baffled the internet at first, but many did not hate the savory scents offered.

As things heated up, tomato cocktails became the drink of the summer.

“Me and my friends have been calling it a stinky girl summer because of all the tomato and sardine decor that is out rn,” said one TikTok commenter.

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“My favorite trend.”

The “not Mr. Darcy but” trend has TikTok users romanticizing moments from daily life.

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The trend’s videos include recordings of somewhat mundane scenes depicting life’s ordinary pleasures, along with a caption that begins with the phrase, “not Mr. Darcy but,” and goes on to describe the clip. Observations of loved ones, pets, and found beauty are heightened by romantic background music that often references movie adaptations of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

When did the trend begin?

The trend first started in June 2025 and became popular on TikTok throughout July and August 2025. “Not Mr. Darcy” refers to Mr. Darcy, the character who is the protagonist Elizabeth Bennett’s iconic love interest in Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy, an aloof rich guy from the 19th century, known for his initial smoldering disinterest in romance, reveals himself to be kind, generous, and honorable as he eventually falls for Bennett. 

As a meme, Mr. Darcy represents a romantic hero. TikTok user @maile_moe12 referenced Darcy on June 25, 2025, when sharing a clip of their dog enjoying raspberries from a bush in the garden. They wrote, “It’s not Mr. Darcy walking through a field but my dog eating raspberries,” in onscreen text. The video appears to be the origin of the “Not Mr. Darcy but” trend. 

@maile_moe12 We grow the raspberries just for him #corgi #summer #corgisoftiktok ♬ original sound – Author Naomi Rawlings – Timeless Love Stories

TikTok creators have expanded on the trend to include idyllic or funny domestic and quotidian moments that show gratitude for partners, loved ones, and simple pleasures, using hashtags #prideandprejudice and #mrdarcy. Romance lovers are captivated by the trend.

@maile_moe12’s video of their corgi eating raspberries has racked up over 13 thousand views. The post’s caption reads, “We grow the raspberries just for him .”

Commenters gushed over the “romantique” clip and declared the pup cuter than Mr. Darcy. “Preferable. It’s the short legs for me,” said @tiffany_booktok.

“So much better! Darcy was always gonna have issues,” said @debsmahoney.

It’s Mr. Darcy walking through a Costco

A video of @char.takes.shots’ husband bringing her a hot dog at Costco under the text, “Not Mr. Darcy but,” accumulated 720 thousand views since it was shared on August 11, 2025. The clip reveals her husband weaving through a crowded Costco dining area, hot dog in hand, along with the caption, “Not Mr. Darcy, but my husband walking through Costco to bring me my $1.50 hot dog.”

@char.takes.shots Fitzwilliam can keep his £10,000 a year #costco #mrdarcy #husbandandwife @Costco Wholesale ♬ original sound – Author Naomi Rawlings – Timeless Love Stories

One commenter replaced Darcy with the TikTok creator’s husband in a still from Pride and Prejudice. Another rendered Darcy holding a hot dog in the same still. @char.takes.shots replied, “Framing this in my home .”

“My favorite trend”

In a recent example of the trend, @nottooshabbybyjess wrote, “Not Mr. Darcy trend is my favorite trend!” The post from September 10, 2025, included a clip of her husband riding his mower up a lush, sprawling lawn under a blue sky full of perfect Simpsons clouds. The video’s onscreen text read, “Not Mr. Darcy but my husband riding his mower up to see me because he didn’t feel like walking.”

@nottooshabbybyjess Not Mr. Darcy trend is my favorite trend! #mrdarcy #prideandprejudice #trending #fyp ♬ Marianelli: Liz On Top Of The World – From “Pride & Prejudice” Soundtrack – Jean-Yves Thibaudet

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Across social media, babies are doing something that has viewers completely mesmerized—laughing together as if they understand every babbled word. What started as a handful of clips has grown into a full-blown trend, with many parents and commenters convinced their little ones share a “secret language.”

In compilation videos like this one, babies erupt into laughter at the exact same moment, sometimes after nothing more than a squeal or string of gibberish. The timing feels too perfect, sparking comments such as:

@marcuslindsay2: “She was like ouuuu noooo they didn’t”

@kat_so..chill: “Oh yeah they are definitely talking about the adults.”

@its.eva051: “Sad part is we will never be in on the joke.”

@ranaizha: “She so cute, whatever that baby said was tea for sure.”

It’s a moment that has many parents and viewers alike asking the same question: Do babies really understand each other?

Related: It’s science: infants learn better when we use ‘baby talk’

What science says about baby babble and social connection

1. Babies prefer listening to other babies babble

When infants as young as 5 months hear recordings of other babies babbling rather than adult voices, they pay attention 40% longer—demonstrating more engagement and positive emotional response to age-matched sounds. It turns out “babble” isn’t just noise—it’s attention-grabbing conversation in their world.

2. Emotional contagion isn’t just for adults

Humans, including infants, often unconsciously mimic and synchronize emotional cues, known as emotional contagion. That means when a silly baby babbles, another baby might naturally mirror that silliness—and laugh—without consciously understanding a single syllable.

3. Babies use emotions to learn and socialize

From early infancy, babies are experts at picking up emotional cues. They look to caregivers to decide how to respond in new situations—and often rely on those signals to shape their own reactions. Research highlighted by the Association for Psychological Science confirms that infants use emotional input as a guide for behavior. When one baby laughs, another may instinctively follow that lead.

4. Babbling shapes how we talk back

Cornell University research notes that when babies babble (typically between 5 and 30 months), adults instinctively simplify their speech in response. This back-and-forth creates a feedback loop that actively supports early language development, even when the “words” themselves are just nonsense.

So… is it a secret language or just connection?

What we’re really seeing is a powerful emotional connection. Babies may not be speaking in code, yet they are highly responsive to tone, rhythm, and feeling—whether it comes through a squeal, a giggle, or a stream of babble.

Think of it less like Morse code, and more like laughter at a stand-up show: you’re not laughing at the words, but at the feeling behind them.

Why it feels so universal—and funny

• Surface sounds resonate. The tone and tempo of babbling mirror vocal patterns babies already recognize, which makes them instantly engaging.
• Laughter spreads. Positive emotion is contagious, especially for infants who rely on shared feelings as their main social currency.
• The mystery pulls us in. Adults crave language to make sense of connection, yet babies remind us that some bonds are felt more than they are explained.

Related: Mom and dad talk behind their toddler’s back—her reaction is unforgettable

The bottom line

The “secret language” trend resonates because it shows babies relating to one another in ways that are playful, social, and deeply human. Their laughter and babble mark the beginnings of communication, where sound and emotion lead the way. For parents, it’s a reminder that connection doesn’t always come through words—sometimes, joy itself speaks loudest.

I’ve been trying to find my perfect signature scent for a while now. I’ve scoured Sephora and browsed my local drugstore, but nothing has felt like me. Who knew what I was really looking for might be between my legs? Well, at least according to the TikTok trend known as “vabbing.”

Vabbing is a portmanteau of “vagina” and “dabbing.” It involves using a small amount of vaginal fluid and dabbing it onto your neck and wrists — just like you would with perfume. TikTok users claim that vabbing can work wonders for your love life, using your natural pheromones to attract a partner.

Sure, vabbing sounds a little out there — and we all know TikTok isn’t exactly the gold standard for relationship advice (see: the “the bird test” and “Beckham test”). But a quick search of the hashtag #vabbing pulls up some surprisingly convincing TikToks. So maybe anything really is fair in love and war?

OK, maybe not anything, but exploring this buzzy new trend feels worth it, especially if you’re seriously considering using your own vaginal secretions to land your gym crush or spice up your marriage.

Of course, vabbing brings up a few questions: Is it even safe? And is there any truth behind these bold claims? We asked an expert to weigh in.

Is there any actual science behind the idea of vabbing?

Tim Lagman, a resident sex educator for Pjur, says there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of vabbing. “The science is mostly speculative,” he says. “While pheromones play a role in mating in animals, there is no conclusive evidence that vabbing works.”

A systematic scoping review published in Reproductive Health Reports found no empirical studies on vabbing, highlighting a significant gap in research on this practice. According to the report, “While the issue of odor in sexual communication has been significantly researched, the specific use of vaginal fluids as perfume or bodywear has not attracted scientific investigations. Therefore, a limited research base cannot provide evidence‐based support for the practice, and related sexual attraction choices.”

In fact, when it comes to pheromones being a legitimate factor in human attraction, the research is mixed at best. “There is no compound in humans that has been definitively identified as a pheromone,” Lagman says. “Researchers have not found a chemical that reliably triggers a sexual response.” That aligns with a 2017 study, which found that the two pheromones long believed to influence human attraction had no measurable impact on the opposite sex.

Is vabbing basically a placebo for self-confidence?

While scientists remain skeptical about vabbing’s legitimacy, those praising its effects on TikTok might be experiencing a boost from confidence rather than chemistry. “On a psychological level, it can have a placebo effect and make someone more confident and outgoing, which are attractive qualities in a romantic partner,” Lagman explains.

Vabbing may serve as a reminder that feeling confident and self-assured plays a far greater role in attraction than any so-called dating “hack.”

“Confidence in one’s shows you value your self-worth,” Lagman says. “People are drawn to partners who value themselves, as confidence can hint at emotional stability and maturity. Being around self-assured individuals makes people feel safe and energized.”

Does vabbing point to a larger problem when it comes to women optimizing their attraction?

Personally, vabbing to me feels like another thing women are made to feel like they should do in order to attract attention, now even strategizing their bodily fluids to land and/or enhance a relationship. And, honestly, aren’t we tired?

Lagman agrees. “In my opinion, vabbing can be seen as part of a larger cultural problem that tells women to be more conscious of how to present themselves and how attractive they are in public,” he says. “However, others may see vabbing as a private ritual, so they feel more connected to their bodies. If a woman does it for herself, it can be a form of sexual agency, especially in a culture where women’s sexuality is constantly policed.”

If you are someone who’s interested in vabbing because you’re not feeling “good enough,” Lagman suggests challenging those thoughts first and replace them with: “I’m learning, and that’s OK.”

“Use journaling to write down your thoughts and look back at how your thought patterns change,” he suggests. “Seek the aid of a therapist or coach to help you navigate difficult emotions. On a physical level, move your body — take a walk, dance, go to the gym, or take up a sport. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable in your own body and nourish your body well.”

Could vabbing pose any real health risks?

Since vabbing does concern a sensitive part of a woman’s body, those who participate in the practice run the risk of infections and irritations. According to Lagman, there is a risk of transferring harmful bacteria such as E. coli or vaginal yeast. “If a person’s hands aren’t thoroughly clean, they could introduce germs to the vagina,” he explains.

So, even if you are interested in trying vabbing, make sure to wash your hands first.

Ultimately, though, Lagman says it’s best to use this TikTok through a discerning eye.

“People should take advice they see on social media apps with a grain of salt. So many creators claim to be self-help gurus or experts and lack the credentials to back up their claims. Audiences should think about what kind of advice they’re consuming and do the extra research to see if there is any validity to their advice.”

While vabbing can be harmless fun with good hygiene, Lagman says it can be risky if hygiene isn’t prioritized. “Like any trend, it’s driven by novelty and curiosity but without substance to make a lasting impression,” he says.