A new TikTok meme is on the rise, and it’s kind of weird.
In the most recent trend to reach virality from the video-sharing social network, TikTok users are holding out their hands and commanding their friends to run and place their heads onto the user’s hand. It’s much like a dog running to its owner for chin pets, and clips are set to a cover of Bruno Mars’ “Count On Me” from YouTuber Connie Talbot.
https://twitter.com/radates/status/1119526501496451072
Perhaps because the young woman involved is so obedient, many people were immediately put off by the short video. Anyone with a dog would likely think that this trend began with an eager pup placing its head on someone’s palm, but it actually stretches farther back to early 2018, according to an Intelligencer investigation.
The trend began, as many things on TikTok do, in Asia. (TikTok is a Chinese company.) A South Korean singer and their friend posted videos participating in a different TikTok challenge, called the #IAmYourValentine challenge. The resulting gag was similar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgp1cEPqPCc
From there, the trend spread like wildfire. It may have already run its course in South Korea, but the challenge is just getting started in the States. Dogs did come into the equation at some point—producing some much less creepy versions of the challenge—but it always circled back to humans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6-n7erqdsI
Now the challenge is everywhere.
Some of the best videos show people growing increasingly annoyed by the requirement to reach the indicating palm and place their chin on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjU80jYWg7A
My personal favorite, however, is this hapless young woman who thought she was getting food, rather than an invitation to relocate her chin. Gold.
Ruri wanted me to do the “Chin on Palm” video but I thought she was gonna give me food
— Sally Amaki/天城サリー💍(Gintoki/Kuroo/GetoEnthusiast) (@sally_amaki) May 23, 2018
るり乃が顎乗せ動画を撮りたかったらしいが食べ物をくれると勘違いした天城であった pic.twitter.com/xISRsGWUIr
The trend will likely burn out in just a few days, as internet challenges usually do. Especially those fueled by funny teenagers. But the millions of views will live forever.
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H/T Intelligencer