Everything To Know About the Fairy-Flying Trend: Why Mental Health Professionals Are Concerned
TikTok's new "fairy-flying" trend has an innocent-sounding name. The videos with more than 66 million views feature users seemingly floating in the air. To some, it may look like a stunt. However, mental health professionals are concerned that it may trigger individuals with a history or an increased risk of experiencing suicidal ideation.
"It started trending because it was fun or cute, but then spread even faster because it ignited some shock and horror," says Amy Morin, LCSW, a psychotherapist and the host of the Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin podcast. "People who are struggling with mental health issues are often triggered by images that remind them of self-harm or suicide."
Parade has spoken with mental health professionals about TikTok's fairy-flying trend and their concerns. Plus, they share tips for protecting yourself (and any children) from harmful social media content.
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What Is the Fairy-Flying Trend?
Fairy-flying is a TikTok trend with nearly 70K video views. "The fairy flying trend involves people showing themselves looking as if they are floating," Morin says.
Though the fairy-flying TikTok trend has experts alarmed for its potential to trigger suicidal ideation, that likely wasn't the intent.
"The fairy-flying trend initially gained momentum in part because of the more innocent nature of the challenge being presented as magical and pleasant," says Jaren Doby, MSW, LCSW, an outpatient mental health therapist at Novant Health.
Doby thinks that the idea that you can appear to be floating or flying appeals to some people.
"Let's be honest, regardless of age, who hasn't had dreams of flying?" Doby posits.
Like any social media trend, fairy-flying caught fire thanks to TikTok's algorithm.
"The algorithm understands that many people interact through comments, likes and shares, so the video appears on more people's feeds," explains Zishan Khan, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist at Mindpath Health."Now that it is officially trending, people, many of whom would never have bothered watching a video of someone pretending to suspend their body in the air like a fairy, have become more curious about what the hype is all about."
Dr. Khan explains that these people are being shown the video, watching it, interacting with it and continuing to widen the fairy-flying trend's ripple effect and reach.
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Why Mental Health Providers Are Concerned About the Fairy-Flying Trend
For some TikTok users, the fairy-flying trend may feel innocent and fun. However, mental health providers are concerned that some may interpret "flying" as something darker.
"Most images and videos don't include their head, so while it's meant to look as though they are flying, they also look as though they might be hanging," Morin explains.
Experts are worried these videos may cause harm to vulnerable users.
"For individuals at risk of suicide, certain sensory inputs, particularly those that amplify or intensify existing risk factors, can be triggering," says Alex Karydi, Ph.D., the project director of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s States and Communities Initiative at Education Development Center. "This can include content that highlights or focuses on themes related to self-harm or suicide, as it may exacerbate their vulnerable emotional state."
Indeed, a 2023 review indicated that viewing online images of self-harm could have harmful effects. The authors noted the clinical importance of evaluating a person's access to images associated with self-harm and suicide, as well as pre-existing factors that may increase a person's risk of being harmed by this type of content.
One such risk factor: About 1 in 5 American adults experience mental illness every year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Doby says that the shock can also turn to numbness for these individuals.
"This trend has also simultaneously normalized self-harm, passive thoughts of death and even suicidal ideation," Doby warns.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khan is also concerned about the risk of unintentional physical harm when performing the stunt.
"The problem is that something like this isn’t as simple as pouring a bucket of ice water over yourself, such as the challenge from 2014-2015, raising money for ALS," Dr. Khan says. "This trend is more complicated to accomplish and can result in a person hurting or injuring themselves in an attempt to pull off the feat."
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5 Tips To Protect Your Mental Health on Social Media
1. Contact a crisis hotline
First things first, if you or someone you know are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Help is available. The number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988.
"People can call or text it if they are feeling triggered by something," Morin says. "They can ask questions or tell someone about their experience. A trained listener can assist them by providing emotional support or guide them to community resources."
2. Reach for a healthy coping skill
Developing various ways to cope can help you pivot after noticing triggering content.
"Coloring a picture, reading a book, calling a friend, exercising or deep breathing are just a few examples," Morin says. "If one strategy doesn't work, it's helpful to have a backup strategy they can try that will reduce the intensity of their distress."
3. Practice self-awareness
Unfortunately, algorithms will likely show you content that elicits an emotional reaction. It's the nature of the beast, and it doesn't make it right. You can only control what you can, though—yourself.
"Recognize when certain content triggers negative feelings or anxiety and take a step back if needed," Dr. Karydi says. "Practicing self-awareness helps in identifying patterns and allows individuals to implement coping strategies before emotional distress intensifies."
4. Be proactive
Think before you click follow, and don't feel a single ounce of shame for liberally muting, blocking and unfollowing accounts.
"Don't follow people who are likely to trigger you," Morin says. "You don't have to follow friends or family on social media if it's not good for your well-being.
Doby agrees.
"Never forget the popular saying that, 'You are what you eat,'" Doby says. "In this case, what we choose to consume can have varying impacts on us. Consuming or viewing more positive content can promote more positive thoughts, feelings and behaviors."
5. Establish limits
Avoid mindless and doom scrolling.
"It can waste your time and eat away at your mental strength," Morin says. "When you're tempted to reach for your phone, ask yourself how you're feeling. Are you bored? Lonely? Anxious? Just identifying your emotions can help you figure out why you're reaching for social media in the first place,"
If you need help keeping your phone further than arm's reach, you may need to set some boundaries for yourself.
"Shut off notifications when you are with friends and family," Morin suggests. "Don't look at your phone when you're eating."
5 Tips for Parents Concerned About the Fairy-Flying Trend
1. Use parental controls to limit screentime and content
TikTok allows parents to restrict content using "Restricted Mode."
While it may be an unpopular decision with your teen to use this mode, Dr. Khan says parental controls are useful.
"If you properly check your child's feed on these platforms for content you disapprove of, you can more effectively limit their exposure to things that can cause harm," Dr. Khan says.
2. Encourage them to follow positive role models
Not all content on social media is harmful. Some may be inspirational or motivational.
"Encourage youth to follow influencers and accounts that promote positivity, mental health awareness and constructive content," Dr. Karydi says. "Positive role models can inspire and uplift young individuals, providing valuable insights and motivation to navigate challenges."
3. Be mindful of their friend group
Social media allows teens to interact with strangers. But the people they're hanging out with IRL may influence how they behave online—with people they do or do not know.
"Kids are highly impressionable and will be influenced by those they come into close contact with," Dr. Khan says. "If you work to ensure they spend their time with those that you feel positively influence them, it is less likely that you will find them taking part in inappropriate behaviors."
4. Talk about it
Social media and mental health struggles may feel challenging to talk about with a teen, but doing so opens a line of communication.
"Whether you realize it or not, your child will follow your guidance, even though it may seem they purposely try to defy you, as we all go through a rebellious phase," Dr. Khan says. "Discuss what can go wrong with performing such stunts: You can twist your ankle, break a leg or fall and concuss your head."
5. Teach media literacy
During your discussions about viral trends, teach teens to think critically about content.
"Teach them to question the authenticity and potential impact of the information they encounter on social media," Dr. Karydi says. "This empowers youth to evaluate content more thoughtfully and avoid being influenced negatively."
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