From girl maths to cosy exercising and hair theory, the very surprising truth about TikTok trends for middle-aged women

Keeping up with the latest trends can be a challenge in our fast-paced age. Luckily for Gen Z – that’s young people aged 12 to 27 – they have video-sharing site TikTok to keep up with all the new things they need to try to stay in the ‘in crowd’.

The latest craze, rather bizarrely, is to post lyrics to The Cranberries’ hit Linger. The line “let it linger” has appeared in thousands of TikToks. Which is odd, because I sang along to this song when it came out in 1993.

I wondered how new all this TikTok craze really is. Is Gen Z really discovering new things their parents and grandparents never dreamed of, and can I learn anything from studying their online world?

So this 57-year-old member of Gen X decided to try TikTok for the first time. And aside from the fact that I had a splitting headache and felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of bizarre videos, I also got a strange sense of déjà vu…

TikTok Trend: Silent Walking

The old fashioned version: taking a walk

Do you sometimes take a nice, quiet walk, without distractions, to clear your head? Then you are totally on trend in TikTok-land.

California influencer Mady Maio believes she has invented a new “movement” and it has led to a meltdown on social media.

She warns that her new lifestyle can be very stressful and “triggering” at first, but if you stick with it, you will reap the rewards in terms of your mental health.

‘Silent walking’ is Mady’s invention, where you go for a walk without being connected to an electronic device: no music, no podcasts, no phone calls.

“The first two minutes are chaos,” she says. “Your thoughts are racing, you’re going to feel anxious.”

“But after two minutes, something happens that puts your brain into a flow state and you can suddenly hear yourself,” says the excited inventor, completely unaware that people have ALWAYS been able to hear themselves, before smartphones and the Walkman.

TikTok Trend: Hair Theory

The old fashioned version: changing your hairstyle

Have you ever worn your hair in a tight bun for a fancy cocktail party to look chic? Tied back and smart to be taken seriously in a job interview? Did you not know you were practicing the brand new TikTok science of “hair theory”?

With over 50 million views on videos tagged with the hashtag ‘hairtheory’, Gen Z’s minds were blown when they discovered that a new haircut can do wonders for your confidence. Not only that, but how you style your hair can affect how others (especially men) perceive you. If only previous generations had thought of this.

TikTok Trend: Solo Dating

The old-fashioned version: Me-time

Yesterday I spent the morning engaging in the TikTok-approved practice of ‘solo dating’ – I just didn’t know it at the time. What I actually did was get my roots touched up at the hairdressers and then grab some food from Tesco on the way home, something I’ve been doing for decades.

But as far as the young ones, I was dating solo. I empowered myself by doing things without a man around.

There are thousands of videos of young women going on groundbreaking ‘solo dates’ and making suggestions, such as cooking for themselves or visiting a museum or gallery.

The only thing that sets me apart from the TikTok cool kids is that I didn’t live stream my visit to Tesco or pose for selfies with my broccoli and noodles. But now I know for next time.

TikTok Trend: Fun Cardio

The old fashioned version: Reluctance to exercise

We all know we should go to the gym or get outside to exercise (maybe a silent walk?), but sometimes after a long day at work we just don’t feel like it.

How many times have you half-heartedly done a few star jumps during the commercial breaks on Coronation Street? Or vowed to do a sit-up on the floor on Strictly whenever Craig Revel Horwood says ‘Fab-u-lous’? That, my lazy friends, is what we now call ‘cosy cardio’.

On TikTok, you will find countless videos of women doing listless exercises in front of the TV because they don’t feel like doing more strenuous exercises at the gym.

Just wait until they figure out you have to stand on one leg when you brush your teeth.

TikTok Trend: Weekly Reset

Old fashioned version: Housework

Changing the beds, taking out the trash, emptying the dishwasher, and cleaning the toilet are all chores that no one enjoys, but they have to be done. Yet some strange people—405 million of them and counting—enjoy nothing more than watching videos of other people cleaning their homes.

But while us old farts call it “housework,” they call it a “weekly reset.” Unlike us, they also put on full makeup and film themselves doing their chores—usually on Sundays.

There are even standalone videos of something called “sink therapy,” where influencers scrub their sinks and show off the shiny, gleaming results. Who would have thought of that?

TikTok Trend: Girls Dinner

Old fashioned version: picky bits

TikTok users were gripped by a phenomenon this summer under the hashtag ‘girldinner’, with videos on the topic watched by 114 million people. It saw young women preparing themselves a plate of assorted cheeses, chips, cold cuts and other snacks. The name apparently comes from the fact that they enjoy such a feast on nights away from their #boyfriends.

Older women who have come across this trend may be scratching their heads, as we’ve been enjoying these types of meals for decades. Snuggling up in front of Netflix with a plate of random cold delicacies – often bought in an M&S splurge – is one of life’s great treats. Only we used to call them ‘picky bits’ or a ‘picky tea’.

TikTok Trend: Girls Math

The old fashioned version: reckless spending

Who hasn’t said to themselves that if you buy your Christmas dress on sale, the shoes you bought with it (which aren’t on sale) are technically free?

People have always been the world’s best at justifying their mindless spending, but TikTokers believe they invented the skill and have given it the annoying name “girl math.”

This time, an influencer named Samantha Jane is laying claim to the invention. Her original video has been viewed 3.6 million times, which comes as no surprise considering she passed along such wisdom as, “Even if I buy tickets months in advance, I still get to the concert and think, ‘This was supposed to be a free concert, right?’”

Let’s just say this “new” trend is wrong.