Spine-chilling submechanophobia test will reveal if you have a fear of underwater objects
The tragedy of the ill-fated Titan sub has sparked a flood of interest in ocean adventures and misadventures but there’s a particular group of people who steer well-clear of such subjects. These are sufferers of the rare phobia submechanophpbia, which is the fear of man-made objects submerged partially or fully underwater. For those with the condition, snorkelling expeditions and trips to the local pool can be fraught with dread as the prospect of glimpsing so much as a ball beneath the surface can be enough to trigger waves of panic. Anyone unfamiliar with the phobia but who recognises such feelings of terror might want to check whether they’re submechanophobics themselves. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Handily, the TikTok account 'br1ghtfacts' has created a test to do just that, featuring images that might seem innocuous to many, but strike horror in the hearts of that unique group. It begins with a picture of a flooded mine shaft before moving on to an eye-popping underwater statue. From there, we’re greeted by a photo of a diver hovering by the propellor of an abandoned ship, then by a pretty convincing statue of a crocodile peeking through the surface. Finally, we’re confronted by what the video’s voiceover describes as “the stairway to hell”, showing a metal staircase leading into a body of frozen water. The slideshow has racked up more than 2.6 million views and 193,000 likes as commentators shared their alarm at the catalogue. Interestingly, the most fright-inducing was the second image: the googly-faced statue. “Number two was a JUMP SCARE,” one TikToker wrote. “I have submechanophobia but number 2 got me terrified,” admitted another. “The second one… my soul left my body for a second,” said a third. While a fourth said they “almost fainted at the statue”. @br1ghtfacts Phobia test - submechanophobia ? Submechanophobia is a fear of submerged human-made objects, either partially or entirely underwater. These objects could be shipwrecks, statues, animatronics as seen in theme parks, or old buildings, but also more mundane items such as buoys and miscellaneous debris. #abcxyz #fypシ #creepy #phobia #fy For readers who manage to survive the challenge with your sanity in tact, br1ghtfacts offer other phobia tests that you might want to try out. There’s one for nyctophophia – an extreme fear of the dark; thalassophobia– the fear of deep water; and even fykiaphobia –the fear of seaweed. All we can say is, we’re glad to have our feet planted firmly on solid ground right now. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Inside the world of accidental ASMR celebrities
A growing number of people -- many in medical or artistic fields -- have found themselves catapulted into the digital limelight after becoming accidental stars in the ASMR community.
1970-01-01 08:00
Titanic conspiracy theories 'claiming ship' never sank are flooding TikTok
According to TikTok conspiracy theorists the Titanic never sank. That's what some users are claiming on the short-form video app, with some videos racking up millions of views. Those who believe in this conspiracy think it was the Titanic's sister the ship the Olympic that actually sank. One TikTok account called @official_spooks, that has over 2.2 million likes and posts a range of conspiracy theories, said that the owners of the two ships swapped out the Titanic for the Olympic, which was heavily damaged and not very profitable, at the last minute to recoup some of the insurance money to cover the Olympic. Conspiracy theorists also cite figures such as J.P Morgan pulling out of the trip beforehand as confirmation that something was amiss. With some even going as far to say the J.P. Morgan sunk the ship himself to eliminate his rivals of the Federal Reserve, as well as get insurance money as he controlled the parent corporation of the White Star Line, the British shopping company that operated the Titanic and the Olympic. @official_spooks The titanic never sank??#titanic #titanicsinking #documentary #conspiracy #history However this has been consistently disproved as the historical records as well as common sense do not support the theory. The reason Morgan pulled out from the trip at the last minute was to do with European art collection. And if the financier had wanted to collect insurance money or kill his rivals he'd have to be sure of the iceberg, as well as ensure that his opponents were not on any lifeboats. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Some also claim that James Fenton, a man who worked on building the ship and survived the sinking, said on his deathbed that the ships were switched, and that he was told that if he ever said anything "something bad would happen to him", according to TikTok creator David Justin, who has over 9 million followers. @davidjustinn What it I told you the Titanic never actually sank? ? "It becomes kind of deflating to see a lot of this junk coming out," Charles A. Haas - founder of the Titanic International Society and co-author of five books on the topic - told The New York Times. "I feel like one of the very few voices crying out against the sound of a hurricane." Conversations around the Titanic resurfaced this week after a submersible went missing whilst exploring the ruins of the Titanic. On Thursday night it was announced that the submersible had imploded and all 5 passengers were killed. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Top TikTok exec and public face of company in US is stepping down
TikTok's chief operating officer Vanessa Pappas is leaving the company, according to an internal memo obtained by CNN, after spending several tumultuous years as its top public advocate and a champion of TikTok creators in the face of accusations the platform poses a national security risk.
1970-01-01 08:00
TikToker sparks outrage for telling people to 'get rid of their fat friends'
A TikTok user has caused a stir online for urging followers to ditch their "fat friends" if they want to be skinny. In a recent clip circulating across the platform, Karmalita speaks about the "law of proximity," a belief that falls under social psychology in which you become who you're surrounded by. The TikToker went on to tell viewers to get rid of their "ugly friends" if they want to be pretty. "You shouldn't be friends with people based on their levels of attractiveness," she said, adding that it's more about "relatability". Karmalita continued: "How the hell are you going to relate to the girl that's crying in the corner complaining about her looks when you're sitting here looking like a snack?" Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter @karmalitafox Law of proximity, surround yourself with people you want to be like so their influence can rub off on you #prettyprivilege She then shifted her attention to more problematic takes, in what some have likened to "Andrew Tate-core", telling people: "If you start hanging out with your fat friends too much, all of a sudden it’s gonna be normalized to get Taco Bell at 2 a.m. in the morning." Thousands of fellow TikTokers flocked to the clip, with one writing: "Hang out with friends who genuinely care about you, make you feel good, ppl who help u grow, make you laugh, friends who don’t judge." Another added: "Just be friends with people with good vibes that help you grow mentally. Appearance is temporary, but true love and friendship last forever." Meanwhile, a third hit back: "I'd like to hope friendships go a lot deeper than looks. we relate on life, career etc however there's truth to this in that you become who you're with." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Man appears to find forgotten shopping mall after descending huge secret staircase
A man found what appeared to be an abandoned shopping mall after descending a secret, hidden staircase. The eerie footage of the discovery was shared by the TikTok account @just.backrooms1 and has been viewed almost 12 million times in just a few days. At the start of the 3-and-a-half-minute clip, a person could be seen filming what appeared to be a small hole in the ground that looked as though it had been previously covered in concrete. As they placed the camera inside the hole, it revealed a long concrete staircase lined with lights that were still operating. The person filming said: “What I find really weird is that all the lights are on, so that tells me that there’s still something active here.” They proceeded to descend the long staircase and, at the bottom, found themselves faced with a single wooden door. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter @just.backrooms1 Backrooms found in Real life? Long part 1/2 #backrooms #foundfootage #reallife #scary #foryoupage #fürdichseite #part In a follow-up video, they revealed what they had found behind it as the door led to another room with a rusty metal grate across the next opening. Focussing on what was beyond the metal bars, they revealed what appeared to be the checkout counter of an old abandoned store. @just.backrooms1 Backrooms Found in real life? Part 2/2 #backrooms #foundfootage #reallife #scary #fürdichseite #foryoupage #part As the video continued, he filmed through some glass a large atrium of what looks like a shopping mall. Viewers were left baffled by the “scary” discovery and left comments detailing their theories. One person commented: “There is no way that is real... it's so scary.” Another wrote: “What was this or is this used for? My gut says it’s not for anything good!” It also inspired some hilarious comparisons, as someone said: “Going to the toilet in Wetherspoons.” One TikToker said: “Looks like the mall in PS1 Tony Hawk.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Fishermen capture eerie 'alien mermaid' footage in Puerto Rico
Alien fanatics are currently enjoying a prolonged field day, with a whole host of conspiracy theories and sightings to get their teeth into. From whistleblower “revelations” about hushed-up spacecraft, to an E.T. drop-in at a Las Vegas home, there seems no end to the reports on visitors from outer space. The latest of these offers an interesting twist on the usual flying saucer story, because this one is all about a USO. To the uninitiated, USO stands for “unidentified submerged object” or “unidentified submarine object”. In other words, something eerie lurking under the water. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter This particular USO was spotted off the coast of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, last weekend, allegedly by a group of fishermen. The men began filming the ocean around them after they were greeted by an ethereal blue light beaming from beneath the waves. Footage of their close encounter has been widely shared on TikTok, where viewers have been urged to “watch until the end” of the three-minute clip. Those who have the time and inclination to do so will hear the fisherman’s increasingly excited voices cry: “Look! Look! There’s something there!” And, indeed, if you look closely you can make out a figure bobbing up and down in the azure patch of sea. @beyond.our.planet USO caught in Puerto Rico! What do you think? #USO #ufo #ufocommunity #aliensighting #ufosighting #whatsreallygoingon #conspiracy #lasvegasaliensighting #uap #aliens #paranormal #unexplained Naturally, the clip has been seized upon by commentators on both sides of the “aliens are among us” coin, with a third group offering an alternative supernatural explanation. “Forget the light THERE’S DEFINITELY A BEING RIGHT THERE,” wrote one stunned viewer. Meanwhile, one alien hunter insisted that the “creature” at the end of the video looked “exactly the same as [the one] in Las Vegas”. Others were adamant that the strange figure was not an alien but another mythical being. “Seems like a mermaid/siren,” offered one such theorist, adding: “They make that blue circle light under water.” (We appreciate how they’ve stated that as fact.) Others, with their feet planted firmly on solid ground, offered less romantic hypotheses. “What you are witnessing is called bioluminescence. It’s not groundbreaking but it’s pretty cool.” Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism – for example, a fish, jelly or bacteria – which commonly takes the form of a jaw-dropping blueish-green glow. And sure, it may not be as interesting as a mermaid, alien, or “mermaid alien” but we agree, it is still pretty cool to behold. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Was TikToker Blake Rosier really the only passenger on a cruise ship?
A TikToker has been celebrated for “living an introvert's dream” after he boasted about being the only passenger on a cruise ship. Major liners can hold between 2,000 and 4,000 guests, and yet Blake Rosier claimed that he’d managed to find himself totally alone on one – apart from a whole army of staff. In a video posted on Tuesday, Blake can be seen standing in a pool and showing off the empty deck around him. Addressing his audience, he announces: “As some of you know, I'm on this cruise ship completely alone. I am the only guest on this ship besides the crew, of course, that's been tending to me hand and foot, literally. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “This cruise has been insane,” he continues. “I don't know how this happened exactly. They even have a movie playing for just me. “All the shows are still going, the pools are open. Literally just me here – it’s truly insane and it's been amazing. “I just had dinner in a huge dining hall with no one else. I'll keep you guys updated.” @blakerosier24620 I was the only guest on a cruise ship He has failed to post any updates since that original post, nor has he provided any information on which operator he’s supposedly travelling with. Still, that hasn’t dampened people’s enthusiasm for his outlandish claims, with the clip racking up more than 490,500 views and 31,000 likes in a day, as commentators shared their takes on the unusual scenario. “That’s the only appealing cruise I’ve ever seen,” one joked. “Not sure if that’s a dream or nightmare,” added another. Indeed, whilst one fellow TikToker described it as an “introvert’s dream” another argued: “This is my introvert’s nightmare – the entire crew tending to you JUST YOU???” Others poured cold water on Blake’s brag, with a number suggesting he had just filmed the video late at night when everyone else was asleep. Others suggested he was a member of staff himself, and that he’d recorded himself once the journey was over and everyone else had gone home. In fact, it’s not the first time the content creator has claimed to be alone on a ship. Last year, he uploaded a video titled ‘Only guest on a cruise ship in the dining hall’. He began the 26-second clip, by saying happily to the camera: “Look at all these people that know me,” before filming staff greeting him as he strolled around the food area. Only guest on a cruise ship in the dining hall www.youtube.com There are a few other clues that Blake’s solo trip claims are all just a big joke. The YouTuber is known for his comic, spoof videos and not for being the kind of travel influencer who might be able to bag himself an exclusive spot on a cruise. Also, whilst he doesn’t divulge any info about his journey in the most recent cruise clip, his video location is tagged as "New York". Still, we all enjoyed the ride while it lasted. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Woman calls out 'weirdos' after being criticised for filming strangers at a gym
A gymgoer has hit back at "internet weirdos" after a targeted clip from TikTok's fitness influencer Joey Swoll. Swoll has made a name for himself online for candidly calling out what he considers poor gym etiquette. This includes the likes of recording in gyms, some influencers' entitled behaviour and equipment hogging. In Swoll's latest rant to his millions of followers, he responded to one gymgoer's complaint that a man essentially ruined her video. Nahtalie initially took to social media with a video claiming the man "rudely took the machine and went in my [video] frame." She went on to use a clown emoji, adding: "Like sir... You clearly saw me doing something." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter In response, Swoll said: "You don't get to selfishly hog equipment if you're super setting 2-3 other exercises while people are waiting and you don't get to tell people they can't be in 'your video space' if they're using a machine in your frame. And NOT everything needs to be posted on social media! Handle it like an adult and move on." He continued: "As if your video is more important than another member’s workout?" "It’s not. I’m sorry, you don’t own the gym. Not to mention, it’s not good gym etiquette to do three or four different exercises, super setting, and hog a machine." Nahtalie was seemingly unfazed by Swoll's comments as she posted a string of Instagram Stories hitting back at "weirdos" for criticising her clip. "Y’all need to do some breathing exercises and find a hobby," she wrote. "You only get one life, why are you choosing to be a cockroach on the internet when you can literally go outside and look at how beautiful our one life is." "Do better," she signed off, citing Swoll's slogan. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
'Twin cousins' explain how they are also brothers thanks to their identical parents
Two cousins have turned to TikTok to explain the complex dynamic of them being siblings – thanks to their twin parents. The two Peters left their 1.2 million viewers scratching their heads in one of their viral clips. "We’re technically brothers because of our DNA," they wrote as the caption, adding: Genetically speaking we’re brothers and cousins." It comes after their twin dads, Peter and Pedro, met partners who were also twins. The unique set-up has resulted in the two Peters looking almost identical. In response to one fan, who said the internet stars "are actually half-siblings, genetically speaking," they said: ''That would be only true if our dads would only be identical twin brothers." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter ''But because our mums are also identical twin sisters, that actually makes us full siblings, not half-siblings. ''We like to use the term 'twin cousins','' the pair explained. ''Even though we're brothers genetically speaking, we're also cousins.'' @thepetertwins We’re technically brothers because of our DNA. Genetically speaking we’re brothers and cousins #twins #twinsoftiktok #twincousins #brousins #science #genetics #fyp #foryoupage The explanation left viewers more baffled, with hundreds of fellow TikTokers chiming in under the comments. "I just don’t have the brainpower to process this," one person wrote, while another added: "My brain is not braining.. Anyone else?" Another clarified: "So you have different mum and dads, that’s how you’re cousins.. but because your mum and dads are twins, that makes you siblings too? Is that right?" The Peter Twins responded: "Yes! That makes us both cousins and brothers. Genetically we’re brothers, and legally we’re cousins." Meanwhile, the two Peters shared how their dads met their mums in Puerto Rico after one person joked: "So your dads are twin brothers and got with another set of twins how did they meet? Twins R Us?" Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Footage of bird not moving in the sky called a 'glitch in Matrix'
A clip of a bird seemingly floating motionless in mid-air has gone viral again after resurfacing online. The original video was shared online by TikToker @bluefrenchhorn26 who revealed that it had been filmed by her daughter's boyfriend near Vancouver, Canada. She captioned the video, “WHAT IS IT” and said: “Somebody tell me what in the living bejesus my daughter’s boyfriend recorded tonight on his way to his lifeguard training?” She continued, explaining: “It’s a dead bird and it’s floating in the sky.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The clip then showed someone filming through their car windshield an object that looked like a dead bird suspended in the sky. Other passersby could be seen filming from outside their vehicles as they were all left baffled by the sight. Since it was posted on TikTok in February, the clip has been viewed 4 million times and has gone viral again with 27.5 million views after being shared on Twitter. @bluefrenchhorn26 WHAT IS IT #greenscreen #weird #jumanji #nothanks #fypシ #foryou #unexplained #mystery #westcoastcrew?? #fyp #foryoupage #foryoupageofficiall Someone replied: “Matrix is glitching…….” On Twitter Another person asked: “Why nobody did the logical thing to do and threw a rock or some s**t at it to find out wtf is going on?” “Did anyone have dead floating bird on their 2023 bingo?” asked another TikToker. Meanwhile, another person joked: “Ran out of battery!” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
What does 'honk the boof' mean as Canadian military go viral on TikTok?
TikTokers on the video-sharing platform have been left confused by the phrase “honk the boof” which has gone viral thanks to military stars. It seems as though every week, a new trend or phrase goes viral on the platform as its predominantly Gen Z users attempt to stay up to date with the latest goings on. The most recent viral phenomenon has seen the revival of some old slang that has left some younger users baffled as to its meaning. What does “honk the boof” mean? It all started when American TikToker and a military man @onexpunchxdad pointed out in a clip that his Canadian soldiers in the forces can “grow beards and honk the boof”. In the clip, he joked he was “switching sides” from the US to Canada and the video has been more than 113,000 times, leaving many viewers stumped. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter @onexpunchxdad This definitely won’t get me in trouble #chieftok #miltok #warrantofficer #staffwars #billyfriendly #army #usarmy #navy #usnavy #marines #airforce #military #militarymemes #captain #major #militaryhumor #armyhumor #soldier #sailor #airman #usmc His video was dueted by another person who works for the US Department of Defense and appeared to be in hysterics over the rarely-heard phrasing. As he laughed, he said: “Bro, honk the boof? The name wasn’t the funniest part. It’s that I know exactly what he’s referring to when he says ‘honk the boof’. “Thank you for giving me a genuine belly laugh. My God.” @mandatoryfunday #stitch with @????????????? he remains undefeated. This had me audibly laughing for at least 4 minutes. #military #veteran #army #navy #marines #airforce #coastguard #spaceforce One confused viewer commented: “Someone explain honk the boof real quick cause I’m not 100 per cent sure.” Another asked: “What does ‘honk the boof’ mean?” All was revealed, as it was explained that “honk the boof” refers to smoking marijuana since Canada legalised cannabis in 2018. In Canada, weed is legal for both recreational and medicinal purposes and is regulated by the government. It remains illegal under federal law in the United States. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00