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TikTok’s terms and conditions and Community Standards prohibit content that includes nudity (or implied nudity), sexually suggestive or explicit material, and non-consensual intimate imagery.
In short, “spicy TikTok” isn’t what you might think it is. Those who grew up in the early days of cable TV or when “men’s magazines” were popular wouldn’t immediately guess what the phrase means on the app these days.
Spicy TikTok refers to a trend on the social media platform that involves the use of the question “Why Is it Spicy?” in several different types of TikTok posts. You might understand the phrase better with punctuation: “Why Is it Spicy, TikTok?” The trend has even expanded to include TikTok videos that users have shot with their pets.
Let’s break it all down.
The Origin of Spicy TikTok
In 2020, TikTok user @kissmytisha posted a video showing her tasting Sprite at a fast-food joint and coughing violently, and after recovering, asking “Why is it spicy?” That could have been the end of the story, but people captured the moment, turned it into a meme, and the @kissmetisha incident ended up going viral. The original video itself currently has more than a million views.
So many people saw the meme and the clip that “Why is it spicy?” became a common refrain on the app, not just for videos in which people taste food and react badly, but in others that focus on all sorts of other situations. For example, one of the most popular follow-ups shows a dog reacting to his first taste of mint toothpaste.
Spicy TikTok and Dogs
A second trend grew out of “Spicy TikTok,” and many believe it started with that dog vs. toothpaste post. Users give their pets (usually dogs) foods or beverages that they’ve never had before, and record their reactions.
The video shared most often (other than the toothpaste one, features a dog who’s had sparkling water instead of tap water put into his bowl. The dog tastes it and looks up to stare strangely at his owner, with the caption “Why is it so spicy?”
Other trending versions show pets trying foods like citrus fruits or chili and then making faces, slapping the food, or gagging. (Important note: apparently, none of the pets were harmed in any way.)
One More Meaning of Spicy TikTok
Those are the most common examples of what users call “Spicy TikTok,” but an offshoot of the phrase has taken on an additional meaning on the app.
When a user uploads a video that someone might think is controversial, overly exaggerated, or somewhat aggressive, or a commenter reacts negatively to a post or comment, a retort they may see is “Why are you so spicy?” It implies that someone is too sensitive or too easily offended.
Of course, “Spicy TikTok” could simply refer to spicy recipes posted on the app — but that’s not a TikTok trend, just a description of yummy food.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.