Everything to know about ‘WaterTok’

Logan Humphrey For The Post

A mindless scroll on TikTok might lead you toward a new side of the social media app: the famed "WaterTok," stimulating over 170 million views across the app. But it's not just plain, old water; it's a 40-ounce Stanley cup full of ice, powder flavor packets and copious pumps of syrup to create the ultimate water-drinking experience.

Consistently made by American TikTok users, the trend inspired others to increase their water intake, especially those trying to lose weight. Users share how to increase hydration, capturing their water recipes daily. Recipes contain powders and syrups that have little to no calories or sugar and are instead packed with artificial sweeteners.

While it isn't a new phenomenon, the presence of social media has allowed "WaterTok" to become the next "TikTok made me buy it," with tons of users now buying the Stanley cups and all of the flavorings to make their own unique recipes.

But many have to contest if it is actually water. The other side of "WaterTok" argues that these flavored combinations are basically juice or Kool-Aid. Some also stipulate that this trend adds to toxic diet culture, as it encourages the heavy consumption of artificial sweeteners and aspartame.

"WOTD," otherwise known as the "Water of the Day, "is one of the most popular sharing methods of "WaterTok." The "Hydration Station" or the "Water Bar" is the equivalent to an at-home coffee station, except there is an abundant stock of syrup bottles on a spinning organizer and flavor packets separated in their own packed caddy.

The most popular flavors of powders range from pop-adjacent flavors like orange Crush or Hawaiian Punch to packets mimicking liquified candy like Starbursts, Nerds, Jolly Ranchers, Skittles, etc. The syrups range in size from smaller handheld bottles to larger pump syrups in bulk. The possibilities are endless with syrups like salted caramel, dragon acai fruit, cotton candy, and coconut.

A powder packet of the green apple Jolly Rancher with two pumps of salted caramel syrup creates a drink resembling a caramel apple. One user shared her birthday cake water recipe, which consists of four pumps of cotton candy-flavored syrup and three pumps of vanilla-almond flavored syrup. This particular video has accumulated over two million views, though the comment section is filled with remarks like "Why don't people just drink water," and "At what point are y'all just making juice?"

Several users have already begun posting videos to mock the flavored water users, giving their satirical renditions of the water recipes.

One clip even brings in a sound clip from the iconic mockumentary show "Parks and Recreation" as a tie-in to the bizarreness of "WaterTok."

The drama between the two sides has grown as the trend becomes increasingly popular. The flavored water makers make jokes right back, poking fun at what the other side wants them to say or think about their drinks.

A Harvard nutritional physicist, Dr. Uma Naidoo, has spoken out about this particular trend, stating that the marketed zero-calorie or zero-sugar products of syrups and powders are not the same as if you were to drink a normal cup of water. All artificial sweeteners are potentially harmful to the body but can be used in moderation. For some users, they have apparently contributed to their weight loss.

"Two pumps of the coconut syrup, ma- ma's trying to have a pina colada," says Tonya Spanglo, also known as "takingmylifebackat42" on TikTok. Her videos get some of the heaviest traction on this side of the app, especially as she shares how she has lost over 200 pounds with the help of her water recipes. She even has a partnership with Skinny Mixes, a company that creates several sugar-free syrups that she promotes in her videos.

She particularly has spoken out about her strong feelings against all the hate she has received on her daily videos. Spanglo and many other "WaterTok" lovers seem determined to stay on the flavored water train, despite the fact that it may or may not actually be water.

Who knows how long this side of TikTok will remain relevant, especially because of the heavy load of backlash and drama between both sides. But the fad is definitely entertaining and creative nonetheless, even though it's entirely easy to drown in this new TikTok sensation. @LOGANHUMPHREY

Grace Koennecke For The Post

Sadly, one of pop culture's most beloved couples, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn, recently split after six years together, the news breaking just weeks into the singer's "Eras Tour." Yet, there's been speculation that the two have been broken up for a while now, with fans using Swift's most recent album, "Midnights" as evidence.

If you truly pick apart each song from this record, there are subtle hints that their relationship is no longer intact. With this in mind, here are all of the signs that "Midnights" by Taylor Swift was, in fact, a breakup album:

Swift recently said she felt the most connected to "Midnights"

During her recent tour stop in Tampa, Florida, the singer told the audience that she currently "feels really connected" to "Midnights" because "it's the most accurate picture" of her life. This speech was later uploaded to TikTok, causing fans to theo- rize that she may be referring to her breakup with Alwyn. Later on, another fan also tweeted that Swift's lyrics sound like she's been grieving the fearful end of her relationship, evident in the color scheme also used for it.

The lyrics on "Midnights"

While many songs on "Midnights" are obvious homages to Alwyn, such as "Sweet Nothing" and "Mastermind," there are also quite a few that see Swift's exasperation and sadness come to the forefront. For example, "Bejeweled" is a song where the singer is annoyed with the comfort of her relationship and wants some more excitement.

She sings, "Baby love, I think I've been a little too kind / Didn't notice you walking all over my peace of mind / In the shoes I gave you as a present / Puttin' someone first only works when you're in their top five / And by the way, I'm going out tonight," which is a definite sign of being tied down for too long.

Additionally, People reported that Swift and Alwyn broke up because of Swift's return to the spotlight after the COVID-19 pandem- ic, where the two fell in love "in a safe bubble while she was retreating from the world" and in an "insulated way," causing the actor to struggle with her level of fame again.

This fact is heavily discussed in "Bejeweled," as Swift admits to not wanting to dull her sparkle or slow down career-wise for her partner, and says, "I made you my world / Have you heard? / I can reclaim the land / And I miss you / But I miss sparkling."

Another song where Swift is doubtful of being in a serious relationship is "Midnight Rain." In one of the lines, "He wanted it comfortable / I wanted that pain / He wanted a bride / I was making my own name / Chasing that fame / He stayed the same," the singer possibly referencing Alwyn's comfortability with staying out of the spotlight, something she couldn't find common ground on him with.

This annoyance is also referenced in "Lavender Haze," where Swift sings, "All they keep asking me / Is if I'm gonna be your bride / The only kind of girl they see / Is a one-night or a wife," sick of people seeing her as Alwyn's girlfriend and not for her ac- complishments.

Lastly, Swift's most underscored track, "Labyrinth," sees her grieving the end of her time with Alwyn, saying, "I'll be getting over you my whole life" and "Break up, break free, break through, break down."

Don't worry, Taylor Swift is doing OK though

As fans worried that Swift would be upset throughout her extensive US tour this summer, she made a subtle yet sweet gesture to one fan recently. During her song "Delicate," which all Swifties know is a direct reference to Alwyn, the fan held up a sign asking, "You OK?" and the singer replied with a thumbsup and a smile.

With this remark, it's safe to say that Swift is moving on from heartbreak with the help of her fanbase and staying busy on tour.