The internet is once again reeling after the latest bizarre sex trend exploded into public consciousness — this time called “hamstering.” The phrase, which originated in obscure online forums before leaping onto TikTok and Reddit, has left thousands of users unsettled, confused, and in many cases, deeply disturbed. The graphic nature of the trend has already spawned countless memes, horrified reaction videos, and debates over how far internet culture can push before crossing into outright grotesque territory.
According to a viral breakdown shared on Daily Star, “hamstering” refers to a sexual act so strange that many people assumed it was a prank until screenshots of threads and firsthand confessions began spreading. Within hours, the term had become a trending topic, with users describing it as something that “burns itself into your brain whether you want it to or not.” On TikTok, creators filmed themselves googling the phrase, only to recoil in visible disgust as they read the definition aloud.
“Do NOT google ‘hamstering.’ I’m begging you. I just did and I will never be the same again.”— @TrendWatcher
Much like the notorious “blue waffle” or “tub girl” internet shocks of the 2000s, the phenomenon has turned into a kind of digital dare. Screenshots posted to X show friend groups challenging one another to look it up, with some users writing that they couldn’t even finish the explanation without gagging. Others insisted the trend was exaggerated for shock value — until graphic descriptions began surfacing in online confessional spaces, where people claimed to have actually tried it.
The disturbing imagery sparked immediate backlash. A thread on Reddit’s r/TooAfraidToAsk gained thousands of comments in just a few hours, with one user writing: “I wish I could bleach my brain.” Another said it reminded them of “the most cursed version of the Richard Gere gerbil rumor.” Articles in Vice and The Independent confirmed that while there’s little evidence of “hamstering” being widespread, the shock factor alone is what has propelled it into viral infamy.
“Somebody really invented ‘hamstering’ just to ruin everyone’s day. Whoever started this, I want a word.”— @NetCultureDaily
Psychologists have weighed in as well, noting that trends like these thrive because of the internet’s fascination with taboo. Dr. Elena Ruiz, a cultural psychologist quoted by Psychology Today, explained: “It’s less about the act itself and more about the reaction. People share it not to promote it, but to witness others’ shock and disgust. It’s a collective bonding experience, albeit one based in horror.”
But while many are laughing off the absurdity, others see a darker side. Commentators warn that normalizing extreme or dangerous behaviors under the guise of humor can blur important boundaries. “What starts as a meme can sometimes shift into reckless experimentation,” one expert told BBC News. “The risk isn’t that millions of people will start trying this, but that even a handful might, and the medical consequences could be serious.”
“The fact that ‘hamstering’ has trended for over 24 hours shows just how addicted we are to shock culture. Nobody actually wants this — we just want to be horrified together.”— @DigitalDiscourse
Notably, celebrities have already chimed in, with some influencers posting reaction TikToks and podcasts jokingly threatening to fire staff members who made them look it up. On X, comedian Sarah Silverman tweeted simply: “Hamstering. That’s it. That’s the tweet.” Within minutes, her post had over 50,000 likes — proof that, even among famous figures, the grotesque humor has found fertile ground.
The controversy has also reignited debates about online moderation. Some argue that platforms should clamp down on extreme trends before they reach virality, while others insist censorship only amplifies curiosity. A tech columnist writing for Wired argued that “every generation of internet users has their taboo word, their shock dare. It’s practically a rite of passage. The danger is when misinformation makes people believe it’s common practice rather than a fringe oddity.”
“If you thought ‘milk crate challenge’ was bad, wait until you hear about hamstering. The internet always finds new ways to horrify us.”— @CulturePulse
For now, the trend exists less as an actual practice and more as a terrifying mental image bouncing through the collective consciousness. People aren’t just disturbed by the act — they’re disturbed by the fact that somebody even thought to name it. Whether it fades in days or cements itself as one of the internet’s most notorious shock terms remains to be seen, but the damage is already done: tens of thousands of people now have an image in their head they wish they could unsee.
