The social media app TikTok has over 1.6 billion users, making it the top 10 apps with the most active users. On the app, people post lifestyle videos, entertainment, shopping, etc.
Tiktok is widely popular among Gen Z (1997-2012). According to CivicScience, one study shows that “Gen Z adults are 10 percentage points more likely than Millennials to say they’ve purchased a product in the past six months because an influencer/blogger recommended it on social media (29% vs. 19%).” FOMO, or Fear Of Missing Out, is a common reason why trends are able to spread so quickly among teenagers.
“FoodTok,” known as the food side of Titkok, can get people hooked, causing the rising popularity of Mukbangs, videos where creators make videos of themselves eating food they bought or made. Since Gen Z are most likely to follow a trend on Tiktok, what are some of the favorite food trends among WHS students?
Sydney Casper, a Junior at WHS, says, “ Definitely Dubai Chocolate”. “ I like the taste of them and also, it was interesting to see all of the variations they had like the strawberries, drinks, and other flavors.”
Kylie Racicot, a Sophomore at WHS, says, “Dubai Chocolate strawberries because all the flavors and fresh strawberries make it taste good.”
Dubai Chocolate originally gained popularity in December of 2023. Created by Sarah Hamouda, with her husband, Yezen Alani. It was made to satisfy Sarah’s pregnancy cravings. It usually contains milk chocolate for the shell and kataifi (shredded pastry), pistachio cream/paste, and tahini for the filling.
Dubai Chocolate does not just include chocolate bars, as the popularity grew, people started making different versions of Dubai Chocolate. Dubai brownies, cake, cookies, and donuts are all examples of how the internet has turned Dubai Chocolate into more than just a chocolate bar.
Another popular food trend at WHS is the seafood boil. Compared to the sweet Dubai Chocolate bar’s, seafood boils are more on the saltier side.
A seafood boil is a style of cooking where different kinds of shellfish and vegetables are boiled together, and then mixed with heavy seasoning. It also gained popularity through Mukbangs, as influencers on Youtube and TikTok made seafood boils look and sound appetizing, increasing people’s desire for them.
Maeve Pelletier, a Junior at WHS, says, “ I like [how flavorful the seasoning is] and there’s different [types of seafood in one].”
Seafood boils are different from regular meals, instead of being eaten with a fork or spoon, they are meant to be eaten with your hands, making the experience unique. At restaurants, they are typically served in a clear bag, sitting in all the flavorful juice from cooking.
At WHS, there are many trends that influence students. Whether it is a Dubai Chocolate bar or a seafood boil, these trends give students an opportunity to connect with each other and experience new things.
