What is ‘feeder content’ on TikTok? Viral food trend faces backlash

‘Feeder content’ on TikTok has become a controversial topic, leading to concerns and debates among users on the app.

TikTok hosts a wide array of creators, but one of the most popular are those specializing in mukbang videos. While many viewers enjoy this content, some users have criticized it, labeling it as “feeder content.” If you’re out of the loop, here’s what you need to know.

What does ‘feeder content’ mean on TikTok?

Feeder content refers to a niche yet controversial genre of videos where people, predominantly women, eat large quantities of food on camera. This content is primarily produced for the gratification of a specific audience known as feeders.

According to Urban Dictionary, a feeder is usually a male who derives pleasure from encouraging their partner to gain a lot of weight, whether she is thin or already plus-sized. The fetishistic aspect of feederism lies in the feeder’s desire to see their partner become larger.

This fetish has found a platform on social media, where feeder content creators, commonly referred to as feedees or gainers, film themselves eating vast quantities of food to satisfy feeders’ desires.

Some have garnered a lot of attention and followers by creating mukbang videos and monetizing their eating habits. One creator who’s often accused of being a feedee is Jelly Bean Sweets, a popular mukbang TikToker with over 1.2 million followers.

TikTokers slam ‘feeder’ trend

Jelly Bean Sweets’ videos show her consuming an excessive number of calories, which some argue is catering to the feeder community. Critics believe that her content glamorizes and promotes unhealthy eating habits that could lead to severe health issues, like obesity and diabetes.

In one viral clip, content creator Melissa (sexymel_77) expressed her worries about Jelly’s mukbang videos. “The amount of calories she’s consuming in 6 minutes,” she said in disbelief. “I’m truly scared for her health at this point. Guys, stop watching and stop promoting this.”

“Feeder content or binge eating?” she questioned in the caption of her clip, which has amassed over 1.6 million views. Many TikTok users in the comments shared the same concerns.

“I heard they don’t really eat everything when they do these Mukbangs but based on her size… I think she’s eating it all. Breaks my heart,” one person wrote.

“Whether it’s feeder content or anything else I had to block because as someone who is overweight it hurts to see others destroying their bodies,” another said. “I wish her well and hope that she realizes her health is more important.”

These concerns have been growing increasingly after a Chinese mukbang streamer died during a live broadcast due to overeating. The 24-year-old reportedly took part in extreme eating challenges where she’d consume food for ten hours straight without any breaks.