It doesn’t matter if it is TikTok, Shorts, or Reels; most of us can find ourselves stuck in a mindless scroll. We are watching content without noticing the potentially toxic behavior from creators and the fanbase.
Like any other social media trend, someone will have something negative to say. Mukbang is no exception to this unfortunate rule of the internet.
Mukbang has been called out for causing health issues and setting unrealistic eating practices among impressionable viewers. Potential food waste has also enraged viewers as some still believe Mukbang creators spit out most of the food.
So, are people on to something by jumping on the hate train following this trend? Are they even haters at all? Or are they raising awareness for a naïve audience and money-hungry creators?
What is Mukbang?
Mukbang consists of a creator sitting down and eating a large portion of food in front of the camera. This food is usually takeout or food that has recently gone viral on the internet.
More often than not, the creator will interact with the audience. These videos usually feature a story time or are filmed in ASMR style.
This trend may sound strange to those who are not familiar with it, but the video can gain thousands and sometimes even millions of views.
The first Mukbang videos began in South Korea in the early 2010s, at this time they were still referred to as Mukbang or Eatcasts. By mid-2010, the trend took off globally and this is when the internet saw the rise of creators like Nikocado Avocado.
The toxic side of Mukbang
There’s no question that some Mukbang content creators can take the trend to the extreme. With piles of spicy and greasy food lined up in front of the camera, it’s understandable why people think this is greedy.
Most of us will be taught the dangers of overeating from a young age, but there are people out there who aren’t taught about healthy eating habits and choices. According to the Cleveland Clinic, overeating can lead to weight gain and other eating disorders.
Pan Xiaoting is an extreme example of how overeating can damage the body, but it’s an important example when discussing Mukbang. Pan Xiaoting was only 24 years old when she passed away after consuming 22lbs of food on a ten-hour Mukbang live stream.
This situation won’t happen to all who create or watch Mukbang content. We need to be mindful of the content that can reach children and other vulnerable people.
Food Waste
Certain countries have started catching on to what Mukbang viewers have suspected. Many believe that the creators of Mukbang, who eat an unbelievable amount of food on camera, are spitting the food out. Then the videos are edited in a way that would lead viewers to believe all the food is being consumed,
Countries such as China have introduced an anti-food waste law that aims to clamp down solely on the Mukbang trend.
So how does it work?
China upholds this law by imposing a fine on those featuring eating videos and TV shows hosting eating competitions. The fine can be as high as $15, 680 which is extremely high even for those who are very successful in content creation.
It may not be long until other countries crack down on food waste. If the COVID pandemic taught us anything, food being available at the supermarket is now vital to our survival. The thought of food not being easily available deeply scared people to the point of hoarding.
The Drama in Mukbang
If Nikocado Avacado doesn’t come to mind when drama and Mukbang are mentioned together, then you must be new to the Mukbang world.
Nikocado Avacado shot to fame in the mid-2010s for filming Mukbang content on YouTube. Like most YouTubers from the time, he became less relevant as he struggled to win over the new GEN Z audience.
But he has been trending on social media for the past few years for excessive weight gain. Users of social media would post videos and photos of how Nikocado looked when he first started the Mukbang videos compared to how he looked before.
In September 2024, Nikocado pulled the biggest scam on the internet as he revealed he was on a weight loss journey but didn’t want to continue. He then posted a video revealing he had lost all the weight and all his videos for the past two years were pre-recorded.
This video gained 26 million views in two days, and Nikocado dubbed it the “greatest social experiment of his entire life.”
This is a great achievement for Nikocado and we can only hope he is living a happier and healthier lifestyle. Something is disappointing with the fact that whilst he was bettering himself secretly, he was still exposing his audience to the content that made him unhealthy in the first place.
The other side: Liv Schmidt
Liv Schmidt has a large following on TikTok and other social media platforms. Liv is known for posting ‘What I Eat in a Day’ and the controversial ‘Skinny Girl Essentials’ videos.
She promotes supplements and offers weight loss advice without having an education in nutrition or fitness. Liv recently received a TikTok ban when she posted what was considered harmful weight loss advice through videos that went against TikTok community guidelines.
Although she maintains her follower count and popularity, many have called her out for her content. Some have suggested she promotes disordered eating and focuses too heavily on body image, which can be damaging to her followers.
So, what does Liv Schmidt have to do with Mukbang?
We are looking at the two extremes of this issue. Both Mukbang creators and Liv Schmidt have promoted unhealthy and unrealistic eating habits to their audiences on different ends of the scale.
Only one side of this issue has received consequences for this behavior. If social media platforms cared about their users and the integrity of their platform, it is only fair they begin looking into Mukbang.
The positive side of Mukbang Content
Let’s not forget about the positives of Mukbang after diving into the negatives, because there are many positives. Although we’ve talked about how these videos can instill bad habits in certain people, they can also create good ones.
Loneliness is something that most of our elderly population have to deal with daily. A growing number of middle-aged and young people are also experiencing this crisis as we go further into the digital age.
Meal times can be especially hard for those who suffer from loneliness. This can lead them to not engage in eating healthy and balanced meals or avoid meal times entirely.
Mukbang offers those the opportunity to join in a virtual communal eating experience. This can lead to better attitudes towards meal times.
Should we be watching Mukbang Content?
Every trend that reaches the internet can be harmful to someone in some way. It would be unnecessary to ban videos of Mukbang because some have taken the trend too far.
Social media also promotes many other disordered eating content, such as quick fixes and restrictive diets. The internet moves at such a fast pace it’s hard to keep up with what’s right and what can potentially be harmful.
Mukbang is possibly toxic content but we can’t deny the benefits it has for some.
If Mukbang brings you comfort, continue watching, but maybe stay mindful about the consequences for some.
