ASMR content has been around for years, most of it hosted on YouTube. The acronym stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and content in the category generally includes creators or ASMRtists speaking softly into a microphone, pretending to be putting makeup on a viewer, drawing the viewer’s attention to focus, or something really ; a distinctive ASMR video emphasizes calming images and soft noises or sound effects (think of soft crackling, hissing or scratching) and lovers love them for the physical and mental sensations they are supposed to evoke.
These videos can last for hours on YouTube – but like so much else, bite-sized versions of the trend have found new audiences on TikTok.
What is ASMR Really?
Luna Bloom, a 26 year old creator and ASMRist with 1 million followers Tick tock and 283,000 subscribers Youtube, explains ASMR: It is “the feeling you experience while consuming ASMR content, not the content itself. It is described as tingling, often at the back of the head or along the spine, and / or a trance-like condition that usually helps To relieve anxiety, insomnia and the like. “
Bloom says she had lived the feelings all her life but didn’t have a name for them until 2013 when she, like so many others, found out that someone had named that feeling, and better yet, that people were making videos with the goal to induce [it]. “
What do ASMR videos usually offer on TikTok?
Bloom’s account has clips where she calmly instructs you to look at different objects or imitate your makeup, and there’s a lot more where that comes from: the app’s #ASMR tag has 171.2 billion views. Some of the ASMRtists who are responsible for the videos that generate these views are eating in front of the camera, some of them are talking quietly to their audience, some of them are organizing their workspaces and some of them are mimicking by gesturing at their camera, to “pluck” stress out of the audience. The content types are seemingly endless, so you can find just about any niche you are looking for.
The benefits were amazing. It expanded my audience, it encouraged my creativity. “
The difference between ASMR content on TikTok and YouTube, of course, is length and style. This summer the app increased the time per video, giving the creators three full minutes instead of one. However, that’s nothing compared to the time quotas on YouTube. Instead of reenacting a full-length salon visit, you might find TikTok ASMRtists just giving you a short cut. These videos are also designed for mobile consumption so they are almost always oriented vertically and were likely filmed with a phone.
There’s a dedicated TikTok ASMR crowd, and while Bloom says they noticed some app users later found their way to their YouTube, “they’re still largely separate audiences”. So TikTok gives newer ASMRtists the chance to grow and explore, while more established YouTube-based creators have the chance to expand into uncharted territory.
“The benefits were amazing,” says Bloom. “It has expanded my audience, it has boosted my creativity, and it allows me to make short videos when I want to come up with an idea that I may not have thought of a full-length video for.
Bloom says her YouTube audience is more familiar with ASMR, and it’s exciting for them to find newbies to TikTok who are just learning about the content.
Nicole Villaneuva, a 28-year-old makeup artist, says she loves “ASMR Everything” and was excited 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,” says Villaneuva. “I get a lot of tingling and goosebumps from the noises. It’s a really calming feeling and often helps me fall asleep. “
What can you expect in the app?
“I would love to see more people discover their love for ASMR, and I think the platform is a really great place to do that,” says Bloom. She points to the ability of ASMR content to “give people a mental break as they scroll that doesn’t feel like they paused at a good time.”
TikTok, she notes, is a destination for people who want to relax and distract for a while. As a result, ASMR content can sometimes “feel abrupt” when it comes to a series of funny clips. Bloom’s goal in creating the content for the short-form app is to “meet people where they are and still allow them to benefit from that feeling of calm.”
The feeling of calm is one of the main points of it all, so pay attention to how you feel while watching certain types of videos. When a mukbang– or a video of someone eating a ton of food, often complete with lip smacking and chewing noises – doesn’t do it for you, try ASMR content with personal attention, or look for creators who can make texture-based sounds by scratching or hitting of objects. The ASMR sensation is typically described as a tingling sensation in the brain, so look for something that creates this. Don’t worry: the app has so many options that you’re bound to find something that has just the perfect trigger.
Villaneuva says she’s most into compilation videos that combine a variety of triggers, including scratching, brushing, tapping, and tapping. (If you’re looking for a few recommendations, she suggests starting with @ serenity11117asmr and @sassiselenaa.)
“I’d like to point out that ASMR can also be experienced outside of ASMR content,” says Bloom. “Whether in a real life situation or in a video that was not made with the aim of inducing ASMR. If this happens to you, I say, hug it, it’s pretty cool! And it could teach you about things that calm you down. ”
She suggests that newbies to this type of content first look for one of their own interests and add “ASMR” at the end. From “gardening ASMR” to “video games ASMR” there is a large selection.
How Can You Maximize Your ASMR Experience?
According to Bloom, to get the most out of the ASMR content found, you should stay open-minded. Understand that you and your triggers are unique. Therefore, what works for your best friend or sibling may not work for you. It’s okay to take some time looking for the right content.
“Plus, as much as it has become mainstream, it’s still fairly new and niche, and that can create a lot of backlash,” she warns. “If you feel a little hesitant – or embarrassed – while exploring, sit back and know that this feeling makes sense … [trying] something new. Everything is good.”
