THE spread of the so-called “therian” trend on social media may influence children to develop unusual behaviours that run counter to accepted human norms, according to a child psychology expert.
Child psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli said the trend has the potential to shape children’s thinking and self-expression by encouraging them to form alternative identity or personality patterns.
“The therian phenomenon that has become a trend is usually regarded as a pattern of identity or self-expression, rather than a clinical diagnosis.
“It may stem from following other cultures or from a desire to gain enjoyment and visibility on social media,” Harian Metro reported her saying.
The therian trend is an online identity movement in which some children and teenagers say they feel a personal connection or identification with a non-human entity. It combines identity exploration with viral social media behaviour, making it hard to distinguish between genuine belief and imitation driven by trends.
A therian is generally described as someone who believes they have a deep psychological, spiritual or instinctive connection to a specific animal, which they view as part of their identity rather than a form of role-play or costume.
The concept originated in online subcultures in the 1990s and later spread more widely through internet forums and social media platforms.
While the behaviour is generally not viewed as a serious disorder, Dr Noor Aishah cautioned that it could still have negative effects if left unaddressed, particularly among children and teenagers who are still searching for their sense of self.
“It represents the creation of an identity without real benefit and makes children and adolescents more vulnerable to becoming trapped in a vague search for identity.
“God created us as human beings, and we should not attempt to seek or adopt identities resembling animals, even if it is only for fun,” she said.
She warned that individuals who become overly absorbed in such identity-seeking may face mental health challenges, including extreme fear and depression, driven by the pursuit of an animal identity that does not truly exist.
“This can lead to unstable personality development as well as social problems if the behaviour becomes widespread or goes viral,” she said.
Dr Noor Aishah stressed that parents play a critical role in guiding children, noting that young people are especially susceptible to influence.
“Social media platforms such as TikTok tend to promote unique, strange or extreme content because it attracts views. The role of parents is to monitor their children’s social media content,” she said. - January 3, 2025
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