Watching social media creators eat a favorite food or dessert can be more entertaining than it sounds.

While it originated in South Korea, mukbang videos are a big deal on social media. The word mukbang is a combination of two Korean words, meaning “eating” and “broadcast.”

The trend has been around for quite a while, and it’s most prominent on YouTube and TikTok. While it began in 2010, the trend encountered a rise in popularity during the COVID-19 quarantine, mostly due to feelings of loneliness and separation. The concept of the trend was to offer viewers struggling with isolation or eating disorders someone to eat with. 

Today, creators have whole accounts dedicated to posting mukbangs. 

While opinions on the eating videos differ, they are relaxing and serve as entertainment, or even a way to wind down after a long day.

Mukbangs are a way for viewers to expand their palates. Viewers might see a video of a creator eating a new food, and it could inspire the viewer to try it for themselves. 

Jane Marie, who’s known as Janemukbangs, is one of the most notable mukbang creators. She has gained 6.9 million followers by sharing her meals with others, specifically her videos on Los Angeles pastries.

Another notable mukbang creator is Tiffany Magee. She’s known for creating the “Tiffany Plate” trend, where a variety of healthy foods are mustered together and made to look extremely appetizing.

Her videos are a more calm type of mukbang. She assembles her plates and talks throughout the video without all the harsh slurping and chewing noises that appear in other eating clips.

Even fans of mukbangs can admit that the noises of eating can be very unpleasant to viewers. Some enjoy the visual experience, yet the sounds are just too much to handle.

Still, the videos are a great way to obtain new recipes and provide amusement and relaxation to viewers.

All in all, mukbangs are a great source of entertainment and can serve as an outlet for those who struggle with eating disorders.