There are few things in the world that offer the warmth and comfort of a hug — but according to thousands of people on TikTok, there are plenty of activities that come very close to that feeling.
Since March 2025, TikTok creators have started posting sentimental videos, showing the things they did during times when they needed a hug, set to Adele's song "Hometown Glory."
@yuriamalfavon I love the gym #gym #gymtok #fyp #fyp? #foryoupage #xyzbca ? original sound - music.rly
Now, thousands of videos with the hashtag #probablyneededahug have appeared on the app, where people share activities that bring them joy or that have healed their hearts during difficult times.
So what is the "maybe I needed a hug" trend? Here's everything you need to know about this viral TikTok moment — including what some therapists have said about it.
The "maybe I needed a hug" trend involves social media users engaging in hobbies that give them comfort or joy — or activities they've sought out during difficult times.
Each video begins with a user writing over a video of themselves saying "maybe I needed a hug," before moving on to something that offers a similar feeling, from shopping and working out to concerts and traveling.
Note: Like most TikTok trends, there is no set rule for how users should approach their videos. While most are enjoying this trend in a positive spirit, some users have decided to give a more personal interpretation and be honest.
"Maybe I needed a hug... But I decided to gather my strength because someone's childhood is in my hands," one user wrote over a video of her holding her young child.
@dressedbyruby Running is the best form of therapy #running #runtok #relatable #girls ? original sound - music.rly
Meanwhile, for some people, nothing can compare to the feeling of a hug. They're giving the trend a whole new meaning, showing how far they've gone to get one — from traveling to Paris to braving a 12-hour flight.
Another user shared a video that begins with her wiping away tears, at a moment when she needed a hug, before moving on to a video of her running.
"Running is the best kind of therapy," she wrote in the caption.
What have therapists said about the "maybe I needed a hug" trend?
While many TikTok creators are posting trending videos, other users are analyzing this viral moment from a therapeutic perspective.
A licensed therapist posted a video explaining that people are showing the things they do when they "don't get the love, tenderness, attention, and connection that they needed to have in the first place."
She acknowledged that some of the videos are satirical, but stressed that others are "so real that they pertain to the defense mechanisms we develop when we don't get what we need."
She went on to say that when people don't have their "emotional, physical, or interpersonal needs met," they develop "survival strategies or behaviors" that help them adapt.
"It's like an internal way of trying to fulfill that need when there's been an emotional release or emotional need that hasn't been addressed," she concluded.
Suggested articles:
- Ghibli photo trend: Videos emerge where the studio's founder expressed disgust for AI art
- California: Measures are being taken against parents who turn their minors into "influencers"
- The emotional side of TikTok: 5 times when the internet did its job
- You may have scoffed, but people with "grandma" hobbies enjoy better mental health
Source: People
