You Must Explore the Immersive World of TikTok ASMR

ASMR content has been around for many years, most of it is hosted on YouTube. The acronym stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and content in this category usually includes creators or ASMRtists speaking softly into a microphone, pretending to put makeup on the viewer, directing the viewer’s attention to focus, or whatever. ASMR’s branded video highlights soothing visuals and soft noises or sound effects (think of a slight crackle, hiss, or scratching ), and fans love them for the physical and mental sensations they purportedly cause.

On YouTube, these videos can last for hours, but like so much more, smaller versions of this trend have found a new audience on TikTok.

What is ASMR really?

Luna Bloom, 26-year-old creator and ASMRtist with 1 million TikTok subscribers and 283,000 YouTube subscribers, explains ASMR, “It’s ‘the feeling you get when you consume ASMR content, not the content itself.’ It is described as a tingling sensation, often in the back of the head or back, and / or a trance-like condition that usually helps relieve anxiety, insomnia, and the like. “

Bloom says she had these feelings all her life, but did not know the name for them until 2013, when she, like many others, “discovered that someone had given a name to this feeling, and even better, that people were filming a video with the purpose of causing [this]. “

What do ASMR videos usually show on TikTok?

In Bloom’s account, you can find clips of her calmly guiding you to gaze at various objects or imitating makeup, and there is much more: the app’s #ASMR tag has 171.2 billion views. Some of the ASMRtists responsible for the videos that generate these views eat on camera, some of them speak quietly to their audience, some of them organize their workspace, and some of them mimic the “plucking” of stressors from viewers by pointing at the camera … The types of content seem endless, so you should be able to find just about any niche you’re looking for.

The difference between ASMR content on TikTok and YouTube, of course, is length and style. This summer, the app increased the time it takes to watch videos, giving creators three full minutes instead of one. However, this is nothing compared to YouTube timelines, so instead of full-length reenactments of the salon trip, you might find that TikTok ASMRtists only mimic, giving you a brief cut. These videos are also intended to be used primarily from mobile devices, so they will almost always be vertically oriented and most likely were shot with a phone.

There is a dedicated TikTok ASMR user group, and while Bloom says she noticed some app users subsequently end up on her YouTube, “they’re still pretty much different audiences.” Thus, TikTok gives new ASMRtists the opportunity to grow and explore, and the more established YouTube creators the opportunity to enter new territory.

“The benefits were amazing,” Bloom says. “It broadened my audience, it increased my creativity, and it allowed me to make short videos when I want to express an idea that I might not have thought of in a full length video yet.

Bloom says her YouTube audience is generally more familiar with ASMR and is interested in finding newcomers on TikTok who are just learning about content.

Nicole Villaneva , a 28-year-old makeup artist, says she loves “ASMR everything” and was delighted to find short versions of the videos when she joined TikTok in July 2019.

“It’s shorter and plays in a loop, unlike YouTube videos, which can be over an hour long,” Villaneuva says. “I get a lot of tingling and goosebumps from these sounds. It is a truly soothing feeling that often helps me fall asleep. “

What can you expect from the app?

“I would like more people to discover their love for ASMR, and I think the platform is a really great place to do that,” Bloom says. She points to the ability of ASMR content to “give people a break when scrolling so they don’t feel like you paused at a good time.”

She notes that TikTok is a place for people who want to relax and have a moment’s distraction, which is why ASMR content can sometimes “feel harsh” when it appears after a series of funny videos. Bloom’s goal in creating content for the concise app is to “meet people where they are, while still allowing them to enjoy that sense of peace.”

Feeling calm is one of the highlights of all of this, so pay attention to how you feel when watching certain types of videos. If a mukbang – or a video of someone eating a bunch of food, often accompanied by sounds of smacking and chewing – doesn’t do it for you, try personal attention to ASMR content, or look for authors who make texture-based sounds by scratching or banging Objects. The ASMR sensation is usually described as a tingling sensation in the brain, so look for anything that triggers it. Don’t worry, there are so many options in the app that you are bound to find something with the perfect trigger.

Villaneva says her favorite is the video compilations that combine various triggers, including scratching, brushing, tapping, and typing. (If you’re looking for some guidance, she suggests starting with @ serenity11117asmr and @sassyselenaa .)

“I want to point out that ASMR can be experienced outside of ASMR content,” says Bloom. “Whether it’s a real life situation or a video that wasn’t filmed with the intention of causing ASMR. If this happens to you, I say, take it, it’s pretty cool! And it can teach you something that calms your mind. “

She invites newcomers to this type of content to start by finding one of their interests and adding “ASMR” at the end. From ASMR for Horticulture to ASMR for Video Games, there is a lot to choose from.

How can you maximize your ASMR experience?

To get the most out of the ASMR content you find, you need to be open-minded, Bloom says. Realize that you and your triggers are unique, so what works for your best friend or sibling may not work for you. It’s okay to spend some time looking for the content you want.

“Also, even though it has become more popular, it is still quite new and niche, and that could generate a lot of backlash,” she warns. “If you feel a little insecure – or embarrassed – while exploring, lean towards it and know that this feeling makes sense … when [trying] something new. Things are good.”