TQE’s FYP: Beige Flags Galore

Not red flags or green flags but a secret third thing: the beige flag.

Red flags and green flags have long been tossed around the Internet in regards to dating and relationships. Red flag? Steer clear. Green flag? Lean in. But what about those other quirks, that aren’t yellow even—they’re not bad, but they’re not a positive either? They’re just the small oddities people have that make them specific personalities. Enter: the concept of the beige flag, easily the top trend of the past few weeks. Every other TikTok or Reel is a video with a big chunk of text describing a beige flag, with characteristics that range from wide-sweeping to incredibly niche.

Perennially online users may describe the beige flag as being “something strange that’s not an ick.” For the TQE lexicon, we’ll define each of these Gen Z-esque vocabulary terms for you below.

Beige flag (n.) — something strange that’s not an ick.

To understand the “not an ick” portion, you’ll need to internalize what an “ick” or “getting the ick” means too.

Getting the ick (v.) — having a sudden, uncontrollable turnoff from a romantic partner or scenario based on a small quirk or trigger.

Some users have been called out for posting “clearly” green or red flags, like a girl describing her boyfriend’s disinterest in the minutiae of others’ lives (an exact description which has been copied by multiple other accounts—you’ll see the phrasing stolen and repeated in an attempt to hijack its immediate virality).

Good afternoon! What can I do for you? I need to buy a gun.

While this audio veers towards dark humor, it’s persistent across TikTok and Reels nevertheless. The sound in question? A clip of a conversation between a man asking “Good afternoon! What can I do for you?” and a woman responding, “I need to buy a gun.” Users are generally using this trend over mundane yet inconvenient events for a flair of melodrama.

Anyhow, TikTok’s using the audio to capitalize on mostly relatable moments, using it as an excuse to complain about the little things without feeling like they’re being too ungrateful (since it’s over the top anyway). The result is a relatively refreshing spread of videos.

Someday I’ll be part of your woooooorld….

With Halle Bailey’s live-action The Little Mermaid film swimming through theaters, it’s no surprise that TikTok has capitalized on a style and aesthetic that always circles back around during the summertime—but is especially ramped up now: mermaidcore.

For an introduction to the fashion trend, consult the breakdown below for the visual markers of this look: maxi, flowy skirts; airy blues and whites; layered bohemian necklaces; pearls; layered lingerie; etc,.

Mermaids of pop culture are enjoying a resurgence, such as H2O: Just Add Water, an Australian teenage romp focused on a trio of mermaids who can’t touch water lest their secret be revealed. The girls’ thick accents and teenage angst are chorused frequently on TikTok in an exaggerated “Cleo, naaarrrr” line that all the kids are quoting these days. Netflix even ranked a series of the best “no”s from the series in a Reel.

Halle Bailey’s of course made her splash (too punny? no?) also in a sweet video of her with a toddler fan at Disney, racking up 2.4 million views.

Professional mermaids are racking up their time in the spotlight, with swimmers from various aquariums and parks using the moment to share their own experiences, like in this video of a mermaid interacting with a fish, using a popular TikTok audio.

Songs to jam to and songs to post to:

For more trending audios—especially songs blowing up on Instagram and Reels—check out our Spotify playlist curated just for you.

Trending Products

• Ninja Creami Breeze 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker ($199.99) — Never have I ever been so tempted by a kitchen appliance. TikTokers are using this ice cream and milkshake maker to create blends and mix-ins from home that are refreshing for summer, creative, and delicious. This might have dethroned the barista recipe TikToks that have been so famous until now. Turn anything into a frozen treat with this handy device.
• Owala FreeSip Water Bottle ($27.99) — With summer now in full swing, it makes complete sense that hydration would be blowing up alongside frozen treats. Shoppers say this multifunctional water bottle (with multiple mouthpiece options) makes them want to drink more water, which is oh-so-important this time of year.

Act+Acre Detangling Hair Comb ($32) — Raise a hand if ocean and pool water will fry your strands this summer? No fear. Combine the viral leave-in conditioners and serums from trichologist-developed brand Act+Acre with their new detangling hair tools. The prototype for these items racked up millions of views on TikTok and let me tell ya—nothing works better after a surf (or a mermaid-style swim) to get the knots out.