Have you ever found it nerve-wracking to share something with your partner? What about confessing it on camera? A new trend on TikTok features people revealing secrets they have kept from their significant others or close individuals in their lives. The unique twist is that they are not supposed to pass judgment on each other’s confessions.
The trend starts with both individuals stating, “We listen and we don’t judge” simultaneously. However, many creators seem to struggle with the non-judgmental part, often reacting with shocked expressions and open mouths. Various groups of people have joined in on the trend, such as friends doing a makeup-themed version in a Sephora store, nurses discussing their profession, fathers having heart-to-heart conversations with toddlers, and parents sharing similar moments with older children. Some daughters have even pranked their families by lying about their confessions.
The majority of videos in this trend involve couples confessing things they have done without their partner’s knowledge, like admitting to disconnecting the router to get attention during a video game session or using ChatGPT to help with messages in the early stages of dating. While some confessions have garnered judgment from partners and online viewers, others have sparked negative comments.
Janie Ippolito, who participated in the trend with her husband, received backlash in the comments section of their video. Despite the negative remarks, she chooses not to engage in arguments online, considering the video a lighthearted moment. The trend has raised concerns about its impact on relationships, with psychologist Avigail Lev expressing mixed feelings about it. Lev believes the trend promotes honesty, but some hidden behaviors revealed may be troubling.
Lev emphasizes the importance of avoiding deceit in relationships to prevent the need for confessions. She also worries about the potential emotional impact on couples post-video recording. Despite these concerns, Lev acknowledges the trend as a form of nonviolent communication, offering a method for expressing emotions and requests. For some couples, sharing on camera has facilitated discussions and lightened the mood, making it easier to address certain topics.
“Shelby Reese chuckled as she recounted the moment, ‘I was telling a story and Dylan whipped out his phone to time me.’ She continued with a smile, ‘And you know what? I actually picked up the pace of my storytelling after that.’
