What is TikTok’s “Yes You Can” trend?
A viral sound has become a safety concern
Quick summary
- The “Yes You Can” TikTok trend involves users, often teen girls, mouthing along to a soundbite that appears to “approve” risky or inappropriate behaviours
- While some see the trend as humour or a form of edgy self-expression, others have raised concerns around grooming risks and the normalisation of unsafe behaviour
- Parents may want to use this as a prompt to talk about boundaries, digital footprints, and age-appropriate relationships
What is the “Yes You Can” TikTok trend?
The “Yes You Can” TikTok trend features a looping audio clip where users mime the words “yes you can” in response to a written question or prompt.
Often the on screen words implies breaking rules, doing something risky, or entering into a relationship dynamic that might not be appropriate for their age.
In many cases, these prompts read:
- “You can’t date a 12-year-old 🥺”
- “Can you sneak out at 2am to meet an older guy?”
- “Can you send private pictures even if you barely know him?”
The response, repeated in time with the audio: “Yes you can.”
The trend has been used in a variety of ways – sometimes playfully, sometimes more seriously.
But it has sparked concern, particularly because many of the creators appear to be underage and the content touches on themes like grooming, coercion, and boundary-pushing.
As of 11th June 2025, the hashtag #yesyoucan has over 100,000 posts which garner millions of views combined.
Why are people concerned about the “Yes You Can” TikTok trend?
Some creators and commenters have spoken out against this trend, saying it may be trivialising or even unintentionally encouraging behaviour that could put teens at risk.
The risks are particularly around power dynamics in relationships, online safety, and exposure to predatory behaviour.
TikTok user @gracefullgrit summed up many of these concerns in a video:
“If you have a daughter on TikTok right now, stop scrolling and listen…
This isn’t empowerment. This is not cute. This is straight-up predator bait.
These videos are racking up millions of views, and the comments are full of girls cheering each other on – romanticising risky behaviour and literally encouraging one another to ignore every red flag.”
Another creator, @texasgardenfairy, reflected on the broader digital landscape and how it’s shifted:
“ Yes you can – that's horrifying [...] I'm not like judging these young women. I can't imagine being a teenager in today's day and age, the way these kids are having to grow up so fast and it's just normalised.”
The concern isn’t necessarily that teens know what they’re doing, but that they may not fully understand how their content is being interpreted, who’s watching it, or how it could make them vulnerable.
Could your teen be seeing the “Yes You Can” TikTok trend?
Because of how TikTok’s algorithm works, it’s possible for videos like this to appear on a user's For You Page without them actively seeking it out.
Whether your teen is engaging with it, watching it passively, or hasn’t come across it at all, knowing what’s trending on the platform can help you feel more prepared to start conversations around it.
If not this trend, at least about related topics like self-worth, safety, or healthy relationships.
Why might teens take part in the “Yes You Can” TikTok trend?
For many teens, joining a trend is simply a way to feel included or to joke around, even if they don’t fully connect with the message.
Reasons they might join in include:
- Wanting to participate in a viral format that’s getting attention
- Following peer behaviour without thinking deeply about the content
- Using irony or dark humour to express or explore their feelings
- Mimicking language or behaviours they’ve seen from older creators
It’s also important to remember that some teens might not recognise the wider implications – especially if the trend has been framed as a joke or form of “edgy” confidence.
How to talk to your teen about the “Yes You Can” TikTok trend
You know your teen best. It’s possible they’ve seen this trend, or it may not be on their radar at all.
How you approach the topic will depend on what feels right for your relationship – and how comfortable you feel discussing social media content directly.
If you feel ready to bring up the trend:
Try starting with a simple, non-judgemental question:
“Hey, have you seen any of the videos using the “Yes You Can” sound on TikTok? What do you think of them?”
This approach opens a door for conversation without making them feel accused or scrutinised.
If they haven’t seen it, you can use it as a springboard for other important topics, or simply stay tuned in for signs of exposure later.
If you’d prefer not to name the trend directly:
That’s completely okay. And in some cases, it might be more effective to focus on broader, age-appropriate conversations that help teens think critically and build self-awareness.
Topics you might explore include:
- Power in relationships: “what do you think makes a relationship feel fair and respectful?”
- Digital footprints: “how would you feel if someone shared your post out of context?”
- Understanding age and maturity gaps: “why might an adult showing interest in a teen be a red flag?”
These conversations can still protect and empower your teen, even if the specific trend never comes up.
What can parents do to support their teen?
At luna, we know how quickly online trends can evolve, and how confusing or confronting they can feel from the outside.
But there are meaningful ways to support your child’s digital wellbeing without needing to be across everything 24/7.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Keep communication open: let your teen know they can talk to you, even about awkward or confusing topics
- Focus on values, not just rules: explain why certain boundaries exist, rather than just enforcing them
- Use tools that limit screen time/use if necessary: to guide and limit what content they see
- Encourage digital literacy: help them learn how to spot when something might be inappropriate or manipulative
- Support their confidence offline: building self-esteem in real life makes online pressure easier to resist
You can also introduce them to luna, which is a health and wellbeing app created just for teen girls and people with periods.
On luna, there’s absolutely no peer to peer interaction, and they can learn from experts about how to build a healthy understanding of internet use and relationships.
So what can we take away from this?
The “Yes You Can” trend reflects a wider reality: that many young people are navigating a highly complex and adult digital world, often before they’re ready for it.
While the content itself may be intended as ironic or funny, it touches on themes that can have very real-world consequences. That’s why it’s worth being aware of – as a teen and a parent.
As a parent, by staying informed, asking questions, and opening up safe spaces for conversation, you can hopefully help your teen develop the tools they need to move through social media and online spaces with confidence, safety, and self-respect.
How we created this article:
luna's team of experts comprises GPs, Dermatologists, Safeguarding Leads and Junior Doctors as well as Medical Students with specialised interests in paediatric care, mental health and gynaecology. All articles are created by experts, and reviewed by a member of luna's senior review team.
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