Pudding party with a fork: The new trend is exciting Schleswig-Holstein!

Pudding party with a fork: The new trend is exciting Schleswig-Holstein!

What is currently driving young people in Germany? A crazy new trend is causing a stir: eating pudding with a fork. [NDR] reports that young people are gathering in public places to do just that. A fun spectacle that has gained tremendous momentum through social media such as TikTok and Instagram.

How does a meeting like this work? You sit together in a circle on the floor, take out the pudding, tap it with your fork and count down. At one of the first major meetings in Hanover, which took place at the end of September, over 1,000 participants came to enjoy the absurdity of the trend to the fullest. The next opportunity to do this will be on October 26th at 4 p.m. in Kiel's Schrevenpark. If you want to join in, all you need is pudding and a fork - it couldn't be easier!

The appeal of the unusual

But what makes this trend so special? The absurdity that pudding is normally eaten with a spoon certainly plays a role. The social aspect should not be underestimated either. The events promote community and bring people together. On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the fun is spreading like wildfire. Anyone can take part, and the non-binding nature of this event offers an easy way to make new contacts.

Christian Möller, a media scientist, believes that the trend is an opportunity to maintain social contacts without taking a political stance. The current social circumstances seem to be creating an increased need for analogue encounters. This can also be seen in the fact that similar events have already been organized in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden and Munich, inspired by a flyer from a Karlsruhe meme account that went viral in August.

The role of social media

The ubiquitous use of social media, particularly among young people, is another piece of the puzzle in this phenomenon. A 2022 study shows that almost all 12- to 19-year-olds are online every day. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram not only offer entertainment, but also the opportunity to experience social recognition through likes and shares. This dynamic means that trends like eating pudding are gaining popularity at lightning speed. With every new challenge or challenge, the focus is on fun, but also the pressure to fit in.

But the trend also has its downsides: experts warn of possible waste caused by the use of plastic cups and the danger that the meaning of the event is lost simply by taking part. Social media can create peer pressure that is not always positive. The fears are not unfounded, considering that viral trends can sometimes have unintended consequences, as demonstrated by the need for media literacy, which is incredibly important for young people, parents and schools.

In the end, it remains to be said that the trend of eating pudding with a fork reflects an exciting mix of fun, community and social behavior. The question of how long this hype will last remains to be seen - the first suggestions for subsequent trends are already being discussed on social media. An exciting time for youth culture in Germany and beyond!