What Is the Emergency Contact Trend? Here's Why People Are Posting Goofy Videos of Their Loved Ones on TikTok — and Which Celebrities Have Joined In

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Ferrell and son Magnus participate in the ‘My Emergency Contact’ trend ; Simone Biles and husband Jonathan Owens participate in the ‘My Emergency Contact’ trend.Photo:Magnus Ferrell/ TikTok ; Simone Biles Owens/ TikTok

Magnus Ferrell/ TikTok ; Simone Biles Owens/ TikTok

Naming someone as your emergency contact is a significant gesture of trust — whether or not they’re actually prepared for the responsibility.

In January 2025, TikTok creator Paiz sparked a viral trend after posting avideoof her “emergency contact” goofing around to theHannah Montanasong “Ordinary Girl.” Now, thousands more videos under the hashtag #emergencycontact have popped up on the social media app, giving people a chance to show off their designated contacts in less-than-heroic situations.

Among the most viral clips is a TikTokvideoshowcasing one user’s boyfriend appearing hesitant to catch a bug, while anothervideofeatures a creator’s partner slamming his head into a block of snow. “My emergency contact,” the latter wrote over the clip, which has amassed 80 million views to date.

Meanwhile, others are using the trend to showcase the opposite, explaining that they “can’t relate” because their partners or friends are well-prepared for any situation. “Unfortunately I can’t relate to this trend because my emergency contact is my younger sister who will summon the entire army, navy, air force and search rescue team to find out why my location was off for 5 minutes,” one TikTok userwrote.

So what is the emergency contact trend? Here’s everything to know about the new TikTok fad and where it originated from.

What is the emergency contact trend?

The ‘My Emergency Contact’ trend on TikTok.Gabi Sullivan/ TikTok

Gabi Sullivan/ TikTok

In real life, your emergency contact should be a person who can step up when the unexpected happens — someone reliable, capable and ready to take action.

The emergency contact TikTok trend, however, takes a more satirical approach. Social media users are poking fun at the reality of swapping their dependable parents for their perhaps less-than-qualified partners or friends.

In one carouselvideo, a TikTok user jokingly asked if she really had to change her emergency contact from her mom — “the woman who birthed and raised me all on her own, gives life advice and is my best friend in the entire world” — to her partner — “a man child who has severe ADHD, is allergic to everything under the sun and nearly s—- himself every time he farts.”

How did the emergency contact trend start?

The video that is believed to have started the ‘My Emergency Contact’ trend on TikTok.Paiz/ TikTok

Paiz/ TikTok

The emergency contact trend is believed to have started after Paiz posted a video on Jan. 31 of her partner repeatedly body-rolling on a medicine ball. “Realizing I changed my emergency contact from my mom to this man,” she captioned the video.

“Girl change it back.. he’ll never know,” one user commented, while another joked, “I think you need to be HIS emergency contact [at this point].”

While the video was meant to be lighthearted, reality took an unexpected turn just a week later. Paiz shared aphotofrom a car accident she had been in, referencing her viral moment as a way to “laugh through the pain.”

“Me when I had to use my emergency contact this morning,” she wrote over the photo.

Despite initially poking fun at her partner’s qualifications, she assured viewers in the caption that he “came through” when it really mattered.

Who has done the emergency contact trend?

‘Love Island’s’ Casey O’Gorman and Olivia Hawkins participate in the ‘My Emergency Contact’ trend ; JoJo Siwa and girlfriend Kath Ebbs participate in the ‘My Emergency Contact’ trend.Liv Hawkins/ TikTok ; JoJo Siwa/ TikTok

Liv Hawkins/ TikTok ; JoJo Siwa/ TikTok

In the weeks following Paiz’s initial video, at least 60,000 people have joined in on the trend and made videos under the hashtag #emergencycontact — includingThe Bachelor’sTyler Cameronwho shared aclipof his girlfriendTate Maddendancing, andLove Island’sOlivia Hawkinswho posted avideoof fellow contestantCasey O’Gormanacting silly on a boat.

Many other celebrities have joined in on the trend, includingJessica Biel, who showed offher emergency contact: husbandJustin Timberlakeperforming a robot-dancing routine in costume.

Olympic gymnastSimone Bilesshared avideoof her husbandJonathan Owensdancing, writing “i’ll probably still call my dad first.”

source: people.com