Bizarre TikTok trend 'raw dogging' spreads to public transport: 'A way to regain me-time'

Have you noticed that some people just stare into space on a plane, train or bus? That could be true: they might be doing 'raw dogging'. The phenomenon has been trending on TikTok for a while and started in the airplane cabin, but has now spread to public transport.

Chances are you've never heard of it, because what is raw dogging? That term can conjure up some pretty strange associations.

Raw dogging means 'doing something on your own without help'. The term is mainly used in slang, originally to describe sex without protection, but the meaning has expanded to other contexts, such as sitting in a lecture without books or notes.

The trend has now also spread to airplanes , where it comes down to users doing absolutely nothing during a long flight. No watching a movie, no reading a book, no talking to the person next to you, but simply staring into space. An art in itself, because the human psyche is of course constantly looking for distraction.

That's quite a test of strength, you can imagine, which is why TikTok users are sharing their experiences en masse. It's seen as the ultimate test of your mental focus.

The trend has been met with quite a bit of criticism, because how healthy is it really to just stare into space at the airplane seat in front of you for twelve hours? Because even a sip of water, a meal, a visit to the toilet and a night's sleep are seen as distractions. All under the guise of hyperfocus and self-control.

Expert opinions are quite divided and there is a lot of sharp criticism, such as dehydration, blood clots and even death, due to prolonged periods without water.

Yet this criticism could not stop the trend. Public transport in the US is now also terrain for the challenge, write Fortune and Telegraaf . For fellow passengers this can be quite uncomfortable: imagine sitting opposite someone who constantly has his gaze directed forward.

Experts believe they understand why the trend has now shifted to public transport. They suspect that it is a way for people to reclaim their 'me-time'; they see it as self-care. Moreover, it gives a sense of control and autonomy. During the travel time, you can decide for yourself what you do, writes Fortune .

And rightly so: this 'awake laziness' could well be a good, if not the best, defence against the surplus of information you receive daily. It gives you time to organise your thoughts and disconnect from all stimuli. It also seems to fit within the broader trend of dopamine detox , which Metro previously wrote about.

Everyone seems tired: can we slow down our lives? 'Create moments of doing nothing'

Missed flight, what now?