27: De-Worming TikTok, a Hot Sauce Oracle and more!
Night School is a featured publication on Substack?! What?!
Welcome back!
You may have been wondering where the weekly newsletter has been. Long story short: there was a heatwave, non-weather related burnout and I escaped to the woods for my birthday. While I have not been sending out the newsletter on a weekly basis, I have been downloading content all month long!
Night School is one of Substack’s featured publications this week! Thank you to everyone who has read, subscribed and shared this newsletter. I was not expecting this to happen but I am very excited about it.
TikTok App Updates & Relevant Content
TikTok was down on Tuesday July 6th for most of the day as ability to create 3 minute videos was officially rolled out to all users.
You can now apply for employment on TikTok via “TikTok Resumes,” a handful of brands have posted job opportunities. To apply one must submit a video resume of themself talking about their professional skills and experiences.
The Wall Street Journal did an investigation on the TikTok Algorithm.
Reply All episode #177 explored the TikTok algorithm and how it knows what a user wants to watch.
OKAY onto the content….
These Walls have Dogs
This video made me feel less insane for having noticed figures in old textured walls. If you know, you know.
The Hot Sauce Oracle
This account just posts videos answering questions from viewers by reaching their hand into a drawer of Taco Bell hot sauce and reading the phrase written on the packet. The level of heat also provides context to the answers.
My Favorite Viral Audio at the Moment
If you’re on the app you’ll have heard it remixed in many ways, this is the original:
CONTENT WARNING: This next section is a little graphic, if discussion of feces and bodily fluid freaks you out please skip it.
Having worms, an Unsettling Trend
Yep. De-Worming TikTok is a thing.
Videos have appeared on my feed for the past month involving discussions of parasites, worms and experiences taking de-worming medication. The video below features a woman explaining that it is normal to have worms as a child in Australia… (will someone from Australia leave a comment or email me to confirm this?)
Paraguard, is at the forefront of de-worming TikTok.
Off-brand Paraguard works too apparently..
The use of upbeat and empowering guitar music in the video below is unsettling to me. Also please note, talking to “sciencey friends” is not a substitute for seeking medical & nutritional advice…
Curing worms cures depression?
“The proof is in the pudding” with inconclusive results..
So I’m not here to say these experiences are fake, or that parasites aren’t an issue. I am honestly curious to try de-worming myself to see… This trend is a testament to how open TikTok users are on the app not only in comments but in video content. It is fascinating how a trend like de-worming oneself can easily spread on the platform.
Many of these videos are framed from a health awareness perspective but with a tone that suggests worm-related information is hidden from the public. Here is a screenshot I took from the comments of the above video:
It is unclear where the source of all the worm-related information is coming from. Anti-Parasitic cleanses are not a new trend though, back in April there was a Papaya seed trend which was said to produce similar results.
While this de-worming trend may highlight symptoms of nutrition-related issues in The United States, it feels dangerous to recommend de-worming medication for a couple reasons:
1) Potential adverse side-effects & interactions from the medication itself.
2) When a product becomes trendy on TikTok, it tends to sell out from people hopping on the trend and bulk buying. In the case of a medication this can create harmful barriers to those who may genuinely need it.
More worm related content…
This one has nothing to do with intestinal parasites but it made me laugh so I am including it here. The background audio is from the Gilmore Girls soundtrack.
No Poop July
This one is very cinematic.
The Bread and the Beat
This account just posts bread falling on time to various songs, ya gotta see it to believe it. Featured below was the best one I saw:
Being a Bitch
Words of wisdom..
She’s Got Charms
and a website!
The Heatwave
So this is old news given our extremely quick news cycle but it felt important to include. When a heatwave hit the Pacific Northwest in early July, most people were completely unprepared. My TikTok feed was full of fellow Seattleites worrying about how to handle it. I also saw countless videos from people in warmer climates giving advice on how to prepare. It was similar to when Texas was facing a rare snowstorm and people from colder climates (the PNW included) gave advice to Texans on how to stay warm.
Climate Change Doomers
Over the past month, mostly since the heatwave, I have been seeing increased amount of Climate Change doomer content on my FYP. I won’t share any of it here as I don’t find it particularly helpful, but I did see this account promoting a less nihilistic attitude:
Post-Pandemic Thoughts
No the pandemic is not over, but eased restrictions make people behave like it is.
Dolly Parton Owns My Heart
I was late to the game on this one as it was released in 2019 BUT if you don’t already love Dolly, this podcast will change your mind. Dolly Parton’s America made my cry, it also made me truly appreciate how talented and influential Dolly is. I have always enjoyed her music but had no idea how prolific of a songwriter she is. I could go on but you should just listen to it.
Available to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
Leo Season is Here…
So I made a playlist.
Thanks again for reading. See you next time for NS 28!
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