logo
A TikTok trend has men calling to wish their friends good night. What does that say about male loneliness?

A TikTok trend has men calling to wish their friends good night. What does that say about male loneliness?

Fast Company29-05-2025
A new trend that's been circulating on social media has grown men reaching out to their buddies to say 'good night,' and sometimes even 'sweet dreams.'
The trend has taken off on TikTok and Instagram in recent weeks, in part because the reactions from the men receiving the calls has often been humorous. In one video, a man calls his friend, tells him good night, and immediately gets a shocked response: 'What?' The caller replies, 'I'm just calling to tell you good night. Sweet dreams.' But that's not quite enough clarity for the man on the other end. 'Good night? A grown man telling another grown man good night?' he presses, while the caller muffles a laugh.
The TikTok prank operates on exactly that premise—that grown men calling each other to say good night is funny because it's so utterly unexpected. Because truthfully, most grown men are not calling each other to check in before bed.
Some men receiving the calls commented that nobody has called them to say good night in many years. That's as nightly check-ins—perhaps check-ins of any kind—can feel contrary to ingrained masculinity norms. But that's problematic. Male loneliness has been viewed as a growing issue, and has even been called an epidemic by some experts in recent years. One 2024 review of masculinity norms and how they impact male loneliness highlighted an 'urgent need' for a shift in order to 'support men's social connectedness.'
Not only do men feel less connected, but they also are less likely to seek mental health care than women. According to some research, only an estimated one in 10 men suffering with depression or anxiety disorders receive treatment.
A 'foreign' feeling
Experts say that men don't always feel able to reach out, and when they don't, it can lead to isolation. Dr. Rachel Austin, a Maryland-based clinical psychologist, tells Fast Company she saw the trend circulating and was struck—but not surprised—by how 'foreign' it feels to so many men to do something that's 'more connected to emotion' than they may be used to.
According to Austin, it can be especially hard for men to learn how to 'facilitate connection' when they fear doing so may be perceived as 'weak' or not masculine, and especially when doing so hasn't been modeled for them. That can make even recognizing the feeling a challenge. 'Many male patients that are lonely aren't articulating (even to their partners) what they need,' says Austin.
Judging by the videos, while confused at first, the men actually appreciated the seemingly bizarre phone calls. Many ended up feeling touched, or said things like, 'I miss you,' or even, 'love you,' in response. Some of the men even began reminiscing about their younger days, perhaps back in high school or college, when touching base to check in and say good night was not a weird occurrence, but part of their routine.
In one video posted on Instagram, which has over 757,000 likes at present, a dad calls his longtime buddy to say good night. The friend on the other end of the line instantly bursts out laughing, and brings up their high school days when nightly calls were expected from those in their friend group. 'I can't believe you remembered that,' the friend says. 'That was like a staple.'
While the trend is wholesome, and certainly worth clicking through a few videos for a chuckle, the responses seem to reveal a deeper issue—that men reaching out to each other is sorely needed. It may even spark some sorely needed discussion about why exactly this feels so unexpected.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Harrison Ford gives emotional speech on last day of 'Shrinking' season 3 filming: 'Just f---ing amazing'
Harrison Ford gives emotional speech on last day of 'Shrinking' season 3 filming: 'Just f---ing amazing'

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Harrison Ford gives emotional speech on last day of 'Shrinking' season 3 filming: 'Just f---ing amazing'

Harrison Ford isn't quick to display the ooey-gooey side of his emotional range. So when he does, he really means it. Ford was captured delivering a stirring speech in a state of visible emotion on the day his Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, wrapped its third season. "You guys are the best. The very, very best - at what you do, and how you do it, and how you make people feel is just f---ing amazing," he said in a video shared on Tuesday to the streamer's official Instagram page. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv) The American Graffiti actor, 83, looked around at the assembled cast and crew of the comedy drama during an exterior shot, and continued, "I love this place. I love working with you guys, I hope we can all get back here and do it again." Ford's co-star and one of the series' co-creators, Jason Segel, rapidly snapped Ford back to his usual, comically cantankerous self by remarking, "Yeah buddy." Ford quickly snapped back, "I wasn't talking to you," causing the whole crew to burst into laughter as he walked off his mark. Shrinking has been a major hit for everyone involved: Segel, who co-created the show alongside Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein three years after his previous attempt at helming a series, Dispatching From Elsewhere, stalled after just one season; Ford, who earned the first Emmy nomination of his career for his work on the second season; Lawrence, who's riding high after having created two hit series for Apple TV+, with Ted Lasso; and that streamer, which has been producing a high volume of quality television since its 2017 inception, but has failed to break most series through to the level of audience fervor Shrinking has series follows Segel's Jimmy Laird, a therapist who begins shocking his patients by telling them exactly what he thinks, who in turn shock him by actually implementing (or at least, attempting to implement) meaningful changes into their lives. Ford was at the center of one of the second season's most gripping storylines, as his Dr. Paul Rhoades waged a tragic battle against Parkinson's while falling for his own doctor, Julie (Wendie Malick). Ford will vie against the formidable competition of Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear), his own Shrinking costar, Michael Urie, and more for the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series trophy when the Emmys air September. As for season 3 of Shrinking, while no premiere date has been announced, stars Segel and Jessica Williams did tease what fans can expect to see. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in June, Segel revealed, "Each season we have a word that is our true north for the theme of the season. Season 1 was 'grief,' season 2 was 'forgiveness,' and season 3 — I acknowledge that this is two words — is 'moving forward.'" Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly

This Yeti bag is the hottest tote of the summer — and Wall Street's paying attention
This Yeti bag is the hottest tote of the summer — and Wall Street's paying attention

Business Insider

time24 minutes ago

  • Business Insider

This Yeti bag is the hottest tote of the summer — and Wall Street's paying attention

Behold the bag that has a chokehold on mom TikTok: the Yeti Camino 35 Carryall Tote Bag. The waterproof tote bag, made by Texas-based outdoor recreation products company Yeti, has been all over MomTok. Parents are taking videos touting it as the sleekest, most durable bag for carrying their things while ferrying children from place to place. It costs between $150 and $170, per its product listing on Dick's Sporting Goods. The bag, boxy with heavy-duty handles, is huge — 18.1 inches in length, 9.8 inches in width, and 15.2 inches in height. Yeti's website said the bag's carry handles can manage up to 300 pounds of weight. A Friday analyst note from Jefferies on July 18 said the tote has gone viral, with search trends for "YETI Camino 35 Carryall Tote Bag" skyrocketing by 1,100% in the past month. Searches for "YETI bag" have increased by 200%, the note said. Representatives for Yeti did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Perfect bag for a day of bringing kids around Melissa Navarette, a California-based content creator and makeup artist, said she spotted the Yeti Camino 35 last year while scrolling on TikTok for the perfect mom bag. She told Business Insider she needed a bag to bring supplies from her family's house onto their boat for a ride around the lake. She now has two Yeti Camino 35s — one in bright pink and another in jet black. And she's customized them with bag charms, beaded chains, bows, and even a pink Labubu plushie. "The bag has collapsible pockets on the inside, perfect for all of us moms carrying our large Stanley cups around," she said. "I absolutely think it's worth the price." Angelica Torres, a Miami-based content creator and first-grade teacher, said she was already a Yeti fan. The company, founded in 2006 by brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders, is also known for its cooler bags, water bottles, and travel bags. "I bought it to use as my teacher bag for the upcoming school year. I needed something that could keep up with my daily routine, carry all my materials, and still look sleek," Torres said. Erin Gunther, a South Carolina-based content creator who heads a video production company, said she bought her Yeti bag in June while browsing Dick's Sporting Goods for an Owala water bottle. She bought it to carry her family's items to the beach, pool, and boat. She said, "I would seriously buy it 100 times over. It's so versatile, and I think it's going to look brand new for years." The content creators compared it to the Bogg Bag, another mom bag that's been popular on TikTok. The Bogg Bag, which retails on Dick's Sporting Goods' website for $90 before discounts, is a large, flexible plastic bag with holes in the sides. It looks like a bag version of Crocs. "The Yeti bag is much more comfortable to carry versus the Bogg Bag. It's also much cuter in my opinion," said Navarrete. Gunther, too, said she preferred the Yeti Camino's straps over the Bogg Bag's, saying the latter's straps were uncomfortable to carry. Torres said she used a mix of canvas totes and nylon bags for work before switching to the Yeti, and they wore out quickly. "The Camino is a major upgrade; it stands upright, doesn't collapse, and handles wear and tear much better," Torres said. The bag is on Jefferies analysts' radar Jefferies analysts said in a Friday note that the bag has gone viral, and it's boosting Yeti's growth. "Yeti's product innovation is gaining traction, with bags quickly becoming a key growth pillar for the company," Jefferies analysts said in the note, adding that they view the category as a "major contributor to future growth." Jefferies analysts mentioned the Yeti bag in a Monday note, saying its momentum boosted their confidence in Yeti Holdings' stock. "We'd be aggressive buyers at current levels," the note said. The company's stock price is up more than 28% in the past month but is flat compared to a year before.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store