The social media platform known as TikTok is a hub for new trends and videos that spark great ideas.
It also brings up bad thoughts sometimes as well.
Recently, a new trend has garnered millions of views, which is that teens and young adults are deliberately engaging in “toxic” behavior in their relationships and marketing it as advice.
Bad relationship advice shared by TikTok users can affect the mental health of people who consume their content online.
RELATED: How To Get Out Of Victim Mentality In A Toxic Relationship
The hashtag #oxyrelationship on TikTok has over 1.3 billion views and is still growing.
Although there is some good advice to be found on the app, it gets lost in the sea of lousy videos advocating relationship toxicity.
Here are 8 toxic TikTok relationship tips you shouldn’t follow (please).
- “Cheat if it happens.”
This tip was posted on TikTok by a user who suggests that women who find their partner suspicious or suspect them of cheating should go out and cheat too.
The reason is that if at some point the woman discovers that the other party has been unfaithful, the woman should not feel so bad that she “cheated just in case.”
This is a TikTok user’s advice instead of talking to your partner and having a real conversation about improving the relationship.
- “You shouldn’t text first because she’s desperate.”
One TikTok user suggests that women shouldn’t text first because it’s the man’s job to do so.
She also says she’s showing signs of desperation and implies that you’re prioritizing the man and that’s “bad.”
People who have feelings for someone and love them should text them. If they don’t respond or mess up, move on.
- “Send mixed signals.”
One TikTok user suggests sending mixed signals to create a manipulative relationship where you maintain “power.”
The user says that creating mind games and confusing others allows you to get your way.
These toxic relationship tips can create a really bad mental health environment, and will likely make a person think negative thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t deserve to be in a relationship,” which can be very harmful.
- “Be sparse in your text responses.”
A good way to make someone fall in love with you is by spacing out your text responses and randomizing them, says a TikTok user.
This user suggests responding quickly as well as waiting hours for him to sweat and become attached.
This can create a poor relationship environment and negatively impact the other person’s mental health.
Related: 14 Signs You’re In Denial About How Your Toxic Relationship Is
- “Drop it if it uses the dog filter.”
One TikTok user suggests that guys should “drop” their girlfriend or boyfriend if they’re using filters like the puppy filter on Snapchat.
The reason suggested is that they are fake and they are trying to look good for someone.
This toxic idea suggests that women can’t enjoy the puppy filter and look “cute” or good for themselves.
- “Keep searching for your ex on Instagram.”
A TikTok user posted a video showing a smashed iPhone with the caption, “Keep looking up your ex on Instagram.”
The user implies that he broke his significant other’s smartphone because he was looking for his ex-wife.
Dating an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend on social media without your partner knowing can create trust issues and a toxic relationship, but controlling behavior like monitoring your partner’s phone activity can amount to abuse.
- “Track their phone location.”
Although many use this feature for safety reasons, one TikTok user suggests using other people’s phones without them knowing to track their loved ones.
This creates trust issues for both people as they will always be wary of each other’s activities.
- “Try a cheating test on them.”
Several TikTok users have come up with this “tip” that suggests sending a direct message to your significant other via a fake account to test their loyalty.
This creates unnecessary conflict and there are better ways to discover your significant other’s loyalty.
Related: 7 Things You Realize After Being In A Toxic Relationship
