The rise of 'Competency Porn': a desperate bid for escapism in a world gone mad.
For those who've been hiding under a rock, competency porn is the latest phenomenon where people can't get enough of watching others excel at their jobs. It's like a never-ending highlight reel of people doing things right – and it's kind of mesmerizing.
This trend has taken over social media platforms, with fans flocking to TikTok accounts showcasing individuals who are ridiculously good at tasks that most of us struggle with. There's the guy who can do wet-on-wet cookie icing without making a single mistake, or the person who runs a successful local newspaper amidst a world that craves clickbait.
But what's driving this obsession? Is it a desire for escapism from a chaotic world where disasters seem to lurk around every corner? Or is it something more insidious – a yearning to feel competent in our own lives?
The lines between entertainment and therapy are blurring, with fans tuning in to watch others navigate everyday challenges with ease. It's like we're all trying to vicariously live through someone else's successes.
Take the TV show Shrinking, for example. A comedy about therapists helping each other through minor personal struggles? Sounds dull compared to Game of Thrones, right? But what if that's exactly what we need – a dose of relatable competence in our lives?
The beauty of competency porn lies in its subtlety. It's not flashy or attention-grabbing like, say, a reality TV show featuring contestants competing for fame and fortune. No, this is about watching people do their jobs with quiet confidence. And that can be downright captivating.
It's also worth noting that our expectations have changed. What was once seen as aspirational – watching someone achieve greatness – now feels more like a novelty. We crave something more nuanced – a sense of competence in everyday life.
So, the next time you find yourself scrolling through TikTok, don't be surprised if you come across someone folding laundry with precision or running a newspaper with aplomb. You might just be watching your own personal brand of escapism.
For those who've been hiding under a rock, competency porn is the latest phenomenon where people can't get enough of watching others excel at their jobs. It's like a never-ending highlight reel of people doing things right – and it's kind of mesmerizing.
This trend has taken over social media platforms, with fans flocking to TikTok accounts showcasing individuals who are ridiculously good at tasks that most of us struggle with. There's the guy who can do wet-on-wet cookie icing without making a single mistake, or the person who runs a successful local newspaper amidst a world that craves clickbait.
But what's driving this obsession? Is it a desire for escapism from a chaotic world where disasters seem to lurk around every corner? Or is it something more insidious – a yearning to feel competent in our own lives?
The lines between entertainment and therapy are blurring, with fans tuning in to watch others navigate everyday challenges with ease. It's like we're all trying to vicariously live through someone else's successes.
Take the TV show Shrinking, for example. A comedy about therapists helping each other through minor personal struggles? Sounds dull compared to Game of Thrones, right? But what if that's exactly what we need – a dose of relatable competence in our lives?
The beauty of competency porn lies in its subtlety. It's not flashy or attention-grabbing like, say, a reality TV show featuring contestants competing for fame and fortune. No, this is about watching people do their jobs with quiet confidence. And that can be downright captivating.
It's also worth noting that our expectations have changed. What was once seen as aspirational – watching someone achieve greatness – now feels more like a novelty. We crave something more nuanced – a sense of competence in everyday life.
So, the next time you find yourself scrolling through TikTok, don't be surprised if you come across someone folding laundry with precision or running a newspaper with aplomb. You might just be watching your own personal brand of escapism.
I'm low-key obsessed! 
Stats show that in 2024, views on these types of videos increased by 300% compared to the previous year 
. On average, users spend around 45 minutes watching a single video featuring someone doing everyday tasks with perfection 
.
. The most popular themes include people folding laundry ( who knew it could be so satisfying? 
) and individuals running successful local newspapers 
.
TikTok creators with a large following can earn an average of $10,000 per sponsored video 
. And get this - 70% of users report feeling inspired to try new things after watching these videos 
.
But I think it's more than that. We need to see people succeeding in their own lives and doing everyday tasks with confidence. It's like a breath of fresh air amidst all the chaos 
.
It's like, I get it, it can be calming to watch someone else do something that doesn't make us want to pull our hair out 
. But is it really a sign of our own struggles with competence or is it just... escapist stuff? 
I don't know, maybe it's a mix of both? 
), but it's definitely satisfying to see someone do something well done. And hey, if it's what we need right now to take our minds off the chaos outside, then I'm all for it 
I mean, who hasn't had one of those moments where everything just seems too much and you want to crawl back into bed? But instead of actually dealing with the stress and chaos, we stick our heads under a rock (or in this case, scroll through TikTok) and watch someone else navigate life's challenges. It's like we're trying to vicariously live through others' successes. I'm not saying it's all bad... sometimes just seeing someone else do something well can be a nice pick-me-up 
But for me, it's about finding that sense of competence in our own lives. We need to remember that everyone has their struggles, even if they don't show it on social media 
It's like we're trying to fill a void in our lives rather than actually achieving something meaningful 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that we're basically paying attention to people folding laundry or running a newspaper... isn't that just, like, basic human skills or something? 
- it's adorable and entertaining, but also super relatable. Like, who doesn't want to see someone crush a task with ease? It's like we're all trying to vicariously live through others' successes and feel like we can handle our own stuff too 
. But seriously, it's refreshing to see a trend that celebrates competence and hard work instead of just drama and chaos. We need more of that in our lives, imo 
.
.
. People are really drawn to those TikTok accounts showcasing others doing tasks flawlessly... it's kinda soothing, you know? Like we're vicariously living through their competence 
. But at the same time, it feels a bit shallow 
. We want more than just watching someone else succeed – we wanna see ourselves in that success too 
. Anyway, it's kinda fascinating to watch how people react to this trend 
.
It's like a virtual escape from all the craziness in the world, and maybe that's exactly what we need right now – a reminder that we can be competent and capable too! 
So I think competency porn is kinda like when I'm working on a project and I make this little flowchart to help me organize my thoughts 
. Like, if they can run a newspaper or fold laundry with precision, why can't I? 
. But at the same time, isn't it kind of nice to see people succeeding in their own ways? Like, who wouldn't want to watch someone make a mean cookie icing cake from scratch? 
It's all about balance, right? 
It's all good vibes and no bad ones! 
And it's not just about the entertaining stuff – there's something really relatable about seeing people excel at things they're good at. It makes me wonder if we're just craving some sense of competence in our own lives? Maybe it's a weird cry for help, but hey, at least it's nice to see some people doing things right 
.
. It's not about the drama or competition, it's about being inspired by people who are just really good at their jobs! And honestly, who wouldn't wanna be that confident in their daily life? 
it's just people trying to outdo each other in the most mundane tasks. I mean, who needs to watch someone fold laundry 10 times faster than anyone else? Can't we get some real escapism from our chaotic world instead of just watching others excel at stuff we can barely handle ourselves? It feels like we're all just trying to vicariously live through these people's successes and forget about our own struggles. And don't even get me started on how it's blurring the lines between entertainment and therapy... that's just a recipe for unhealthy obsession 
.
. and don't even get me started on the guy who does wet-on-wet cookie icing – I'm a little jealous of his skills