The Viral Trend of Men Calling Each Other to Say ‘Goodnight’

In a quirky new trend taking TikTok by storm, British TikToker Jay Porter captures a heartfelt moment as he calls a male friend just to wish him goodnight, a video that has gained over 126,000 likes. This “goodnight call” trend involves men phoning their friends unexpectedly at bedtime, simply to share a few kind words.

Porter’s friend responds with playful confusion, asking, “Is that all you rang me for? Okay well, sleep well, my sweet prince.” Their conversation concludes with heartfelt “love you” exchanges, showcasing a surprising depth of camaraderie.

The phenomenon has seen an explosion of popularity recently, with hundreds of thousands of views on similar videos. Men’s humorous and sometimes endearing reactions to these nighttime calls have become a highlight of this trend.

Prominent figures such as NFL athlete Mike Sainristil have also joined the fun, sharing videos of themselves calling teammates to say goodnight, which have collectively garnered nearly 1 million likes.

In a personal reflection, I questioned my boyfriend about whether he had ever made such a call. He hadn’t, which seems typical among men in their twenties, highlighting how rare these interactions are.

You can often hear the surprise in young men’s voices when they receive these goodnight calls. Their baffled responses, ranging from “What do you mean?” to “Seriously?” bring laughs to viewers, while the callers struggle to contain their amusement.

What starts as a lighthearted prank often transitions into more meaningful conversations, with friends discussing their days and feelings, frequently ending the calls on a loving note.

The emotional expressions captured in these videos, many recorded by the callers’ girlfriends or family members, have resonated deeply with female audiences. One user, whose comment received 21,000 likes, called for normalizing such displays of male friendship, noting, “I love that the boys say I love you to each other.”

Encouraging men to check in with their friends and share their feelings is increasingly important, particularly as male loneliness rises. A 2021 survey by The Survey Centre on American Life revealed that fewer than one in three men had engaged in a private conversation with a friend about personal feelings in the last week. Additionally, research from the Movember Foundation in 2018 found that 27% of men reported having no close friends.

Jake Paul, a well-known American influencer and boxer with 18.7 million followers on TikTok, also participated in the trend. When he told e-sports player FaZe Banks that he hoped he sleeps well, Banks humorously inquired whether it was part of a TikTok or streaming endeavor.

The trend’s popularity has spurred female TikTok users to create their own variations. One amusing video featuring a group of female roommates showcases their landlord, who, after receiving a goodnight call, offers to share a bedtime story, racking up 1 million likes.

Another woman entertained viewers as she called her HR colleague to say goodnight, leaving them both chuckling as she expressed her intent to get an early night. Such scenarios add an amusing twist to the original concept.