Move over Bean Soup, Burnt Toast, and Taxi Cab, because there’s a new so-called ‘theory’ currently overrunning TikTok’s For You Page (FYP). The Septum Ring Theory has taken the platform by storm, sparking debate and backlash among users.
For those who haven’t spent every waking moment on TikTok, since the app’s inception, users have created viral moments out of various ‘theories’. The Bean Soup Theory suggests that social media users make every post about themselves, while the Burnt Toast Theory posits that minor inconveniences serve a predestined silver lining. Now, the Septum Ring Theory has emerged, suggesting that individuals with pierced septums are prone to oversharing their traumas online.
The Origins of the Septum Ring Theory
The Septum Ring Theory was coined by Torraine Walker, a self-proclaimed ‘men’s rights activist’, who first mentioned it in 2017. According to Walker, many viral videos calling out misogyny or advocating for progressive ideas were made by women with pierced septums. By 2025, the theory had evolved to suggest that individuals with a ‘woe-is-me’ attitude, often labeled as ‘snowflakes’, are likely to have a nose ring.
This theory, much like others before it, lacks scientific backing and is more of a stereotype dressed as a theory. It echoes past viral memes, such as the stereotype of non-binary people being baristas with blue hair or the notion that any woman demanding to speak to a manager is named Karen.
Reactions and Reclamations
In response to the theory’s resurgence on TikTok, septum-pierced users have taken to the platform to offer rebuttals, embrace their ringed noses, or reclaim the stereotype as a source of pride. One TikToker remarked,
“It’s a piece of metal that I can take out at any time, but can you bring back the light into your mother’s eyes?”
Others have dismissed the theory, stating they don’t “want a man who cries about a piece of metal” or proposing an alternate theory that “all girls with septum rings are hot”.
Laura Masia, PEDESTRIAN.TV’s senior entertainment reporter, also stood firm in her decade-long sporting of the septum ring, stating,
“As a left-leaning, feminist gal, I’m proud to fall into the stereotype.”
Her sentiments reflect a broader movement among TikTok users to reclaim and redefine the narrative around septum rings.
The Broader Implications
While the reclamation of the septum ring stereotype is promising, the nature of TikTok suggests that this viral theory will soon be overshadowed by another equally nonsensical and hyper-specific trend. The platform’s tendency to create and discard viral content means that theories like the Septum Ring Theory are often fleeting.
However, the discussions they spark can have lasting impacts on how stereotypes are perceived and challenged. By reclaiming the narrative, users are not only debunking baseless theories but also fostering a more inclusive and accepting digital community.
As TikTok continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what the next viral theory will be. Perhaps it will be something as outlandish as the Yellow Pillow Theory or the Joey from Friends Theory. On a platform as unpredictable as TikTok, anything is possible.
