With 15bn views to #MorningRoutine TikTok videos, Rachel Signer decided to wake up to the social media trend – and was served some societal critique with her cereal
I always considered myself too old for TikTok. A year ago, I downloaded the app, browsed, felt a mixture of horror and fascination, tried to make a video, couldn’t figure it out, and gave up.
But recently, I gave it another look, and what I found both fascinated and confused me: one video after another, creators were slowly and carefully preparing hot drinks – frothy matcha, or pod coffee poured over ice into large, cylindrical jugs, chased with almond milk. These people awoke before dawn to start their day. They all pushed the same puffy headband on to their foreheads, then recited morning affirmations while applying serum and styling their eyebrows. They journaled about their “goals” and planned out their day by the hour. They worked out in spandex sets so fresh that I felt the urge to throw out my old, ratty sports bras. They meditated, and/or practised yoga (both?!). They made smoothies featuring fresh fruit and all sorts of powdered supplements. In some cases, they went on “mental health walks”. And they documented it all.
