For those who enjoy autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), exposure to the sounds and videos can be healing and soothing symptoms of anxiety and stress. But for others, they don’t tend to provoke any feelings at all.
ASMR is the phrase that describes the calming and tingling sensation provoked by a variety of videos and sounds, including whispering, finger tapping and scratching noises.
People have been fascinated by the idea of ASMR for many years, but it has only recently begun to blow up on TikTok.
While the actual psychological reasoning behind the effects of watching ASMR has not been determined, people watch these videos to encourage sleep and relaxation. However, researchers from the University of Sheffield and Manchester Metropolitan University found ASMR can benefit physical and mental health. Their study found those who experience ASMR had significantly reduced heart rates while watching the videos, compared to people who do not.
Satisfying videos on TikTok tagging #ASMR include videos of cars being cleaned, food being prepared, and skincare products being used. They are extremely popular and receive millions of views and likes.
Ellen Brookes, 21, a student at Sheffield Hallam University, listens to fire crackling and rain noises to 'feel cosy' and calm.
She said: “Unless I’m really tired, I can’t sleep without rain noise now.
“I don’t like the videos where people talk really close to the microphone or eat loads of food. It makes me really angry, like someone I’m eating with is talking with their mouth full.”
It seems different people enjoy different types of ASMR, and whilst some noises can reduce stress and anxiety, other sounds can be irritating and difficult to hear.
Although the research behind ASMR is limited, it does seem to have positive effects and the satisfying, aesthetic videos on TikTok are worth a watch – even if only for a sense of satisfaction.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon