What Is the ‘Probably Needed a Hug’ TikTok Trend? Here’s Why People Are Posting Videos of Their Low Moments

There are few things in the world that provide the same warmth and comfort as a hug — but according to thousands of people on TikTok, there are plenty of activities that come pretty close.

Since March 2025, TikTok creators have been posting sentimental videos on the social media platform showcasing things they did during times they needed a hug, set to Adele’s “Hometown Glory.”

Now, thousands of videos under the hashtag #probablyneededahug have popped up on the social media app, comprised of people displaying activities that bring them joy or have mended their hearts during tough times.

So what is the “probably needed a hug” trend? Here’s everything to know about the viral TikTok moment — including what some therapists have said about it.

What is the “probably needed a hug” TikTok trend?

The “probably needed a hug” TikTok trend sees social media users indulging in hobbies that bring them comfort or joy — or activities they have sought out during tough times.

Each video starts with a user writing over a clip of themselves that they probably needed a hug, before transitioning to something that provided a similar feeling, from shopping and exercising to attending concerts and traveling.

The caveat: like most TikTok trends, there is no hard and fast rule to how users approach their videos. Rather than joining the majority who are embracing the positive spirit of the trend, some users are putting their own spin on it and just getting real.

“Probably needed a hug … But put on a brave face instead because someone’s whole childhood is in my hands,” one user wrote over a video of her holding her toddler.

What are some examples of the “probably needed a hug” trend?

In the weeks since the trend has gone viral, thousands of TikTok users have joined in to display the things that have healed them like a hug.

Among some of the most viral clips is a TikTok video of one user saying she “probably needed a hug,” but instead she gave birth to a baby girl. “Forever healed,” she captioned the post, which has amassed 2 million views to date.

Meanwhile, for some people, nothing compares to the feeling of a hug. Those users are putting a different spin on the trend, showcasing the lengths they would go to receive an embrace — from flying to Paris to enduring a 12-hour travel day.

In one video, a TikTok user compiled videos of concerts she attended, while another creator shared a clip of her dancing.

Another TikTok user shared a video that started with her wiping away her tears in a moment she needed a hug before transitioning to a clip of her on a run.

“Running is the best form of therapy,” she captioned the video.

Influencer Kit Keenan also joined in on the trend with a video, writing that she “decided to completely reinvent [her] style and clean [her] closet instead” of getting a hug.

What have therapists said about the “probably needed a hug” trend?

While many TikTok creators are posting videos of the trend itself, other users are chiming in to break down the viral moment from a therapeutic perspective.

Creator Emily Powell, who writes on her profile that she is a licensed therapist, posted a video explaining that people are showcasing the things they do when they “do not get the love, tenderness, attention [and] connection that they needed in the first place.”

Although she acknowledged that some of the videos are satirical, Powell explained that others are “so real in terms of the protective parts that we develop when we don’t get what we need.”

Powell went on to say that when people don’t get their needs met “emotionally, physically, relationally,” they develop “coping strategies or behaviors” that do so adaptively.

“It’s like our internal systems workaround of trying to get that need met when there’s some sort of emotional neglect or emotional need that’s not tended to,” she continued.