While TikTok is largely known as a platform where users share playful videos, it appears that teens and young adults are now using secret codes on the app to share when they are struggling with feelings of anxiety and depression.
Indeed, the term "I had pasta tonight" isn't a reference to what the individual in question had for dinner, rather it's a cry for help.
The statement connotes that the person in the video is feeling depressed, anxious, or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Other phrases used to imply this relate to the use of shampoo and conditioner, for example: "I finished my shampoo and conditioner at the same time."
Per Yahoo News, Gen Z is the most at-risk generation for mental illness. This is thought to be linked to their use of social media, as statistically, they are more likely to engage with social media.
And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, suicide is Gen Z's second-leading cause of death, with data showing that the suicide rate between those aged 10 to 24 has increased by 56% between 2007 and 2017.
One Reddit user has posited the theory that the phrases come from a Wattpad post titled, 'Don't kill yourself today', which at one point says to "finish your shampoo" and "tell someone your best pasta recipe."
One TikTok, which has gone viral on the platform and features the term, "I had pasta tonight", has garnered over three million views and 60,000 comments. It's captioned, "Told my mom about my favorite pasta recipe and she made it for dinner tonight".
In the comments section, one user wrote: "You’re so loved," while another corroborated "You haven’t come this far to only come this far."
"This comment section is my new therapy. Thank you," wrote another TikTok user.
The poster has since addressed the love she's received (above), writing, "I love you all so much it’s beyond words. Thank you so much."