Social media users are baffled by the rise of a new travel trend: ‘rawdogging’.
The practice, also known as “barebacking,” is a grueling way to spend a flight, avoiding all forms of entertainment other than basic maps or flight information.
Some participants went even further and skipped food and drink throughout the entire hike, regardless of how long the hike lasted.
TikTok users have been wowing viewers by sharing their own experiences with the craze, often filming themselves staring blankly into space.
The movement has quickly raised concerns, with people wondering why people choose to spend their travels without enjoying themselves, with one person even calling it “psychopathic” behavior.
More and more people are opting for ‘rawdogging’ when it comes to flying, including British rapper ArrDee (pictured)
This trend has prompted people all over the world to be alone with their thoughts for the entire flight.
Rapper ArrDee from Brighton shared footage of himself ‘rawdogging’ during an eight-hour flight on TikTok.
He explains in the video: ‘I just got through an eight-hour flight, no music, no food, just instructions.’
Elders, British DJ and producer @oiwudini said he set a new personal record during a flight by doing “rawdogging” for seven hours, “with no headphones, no movie, no water, nothing.”
He concluded in the clip, which has been viewed more than 13 million times: “Unbelievable. The power of my mind knows no bounds.”
While the trend is appealing to some, others are voicing their concerns via X, formerly Twitter.
One claimed it was ‘psychopath behaviour’. They explained: ‘People who rawdog any form of transit are so scary.
“What do you mean you’re on the subway with no noise canceling headphones? On a plane with no shows to watch? In a car in silence? Psychopathic behavior.”
A British producer, who goes by TikTok moniker @ojuwudini, has racked up more than 13 million views for his ‘rawdogging’ clip
Another added: ‘People who do raw dog runs are a special breed of people. The woman next to me doesn’t watch TV. Doesn’t read. Doesn’t nap. Doesn’t look at her phone.
“She just stares straight ahead. This is a five-hour flight. I don’t know if I’m obsessed or terrified of her. Maybe both.”
“I will never call a flight ‘raw dog’, that’s a trend I don’t subscribe to because… why would you put yourself through that torture for nothing,” said another.
A fourth added: ‘It’s psychotic, honestly.’ Another wrote: ‘That’s wild. There is absolutely no way my ADHD would ever let me do that.’
While it may sound like a nightmare to many, Dr Sandi Mann, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Lancashire and an expert on boredom, wellbeing and emotions, argues that the trend also has its benefits.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she said: ‘The new craze for ‘rawdogging’ flights may seem like a humorous and slightly bizarre trend. However, there are real mental health benefits to be had.
‘Giving ourselves time to step away from our phones and other stimuli allows our minds to wander, which can lead to new ideas and creativity.
‘When we have absolutely nothing to do or are not distracted by anything, we experience low stimulation levels.
‘The feeling of understimulation, or boredom as it is often called, can feel uncomfortable and something we try to avoid. So when we force ourselves to be in this state, our thoughts start to look inward.’
The teacher continued, “Our brains can provide the neural stimulation that is missing from the external environment. The firing of networks and connections, the jumping from ideas to images to thoughts, becomes less conscious. We stop controlling where our brains go. This allows us to see things in new ways and tap into new ideas.
‘I once did an experiment at the University of Central Lancashire where I took people off the street and put them in a room with no stimulation at all, like music, phones or even anything to look at.
‘At first, participants found it an uncomfortable experience and wanted to do something, but eventually they relaxed and found it calming.
While the trend has gained momentum recently, others claim it is ‘wild’ and ‘psychopathic’ behaviour
‘If we take the time to let our brains run free, we can daydream. Both processes are the catalyst for creativity.
“During this time, we come up with more creative ideas and different approaches to problem solving. It also gives us much-needed downtime from the stresses of everyday life.”
Sandi explained that air travel is a good time to try low-stimulus situations.
She noted: ‘For us, a flight is the perfect moment to completely escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
‘Putting your phone on airplane mode means you don’t have to click on messages or notifications anymore. It’s a great excuse to put the screen away completely and focus on your thoughts.
“Although we may find it difficult at first to sit on a plane and do nothing, eventually we will begin to relax. It takes some patience, but it can be incredibly beneficial.”
She added: ‘I would actually suggest that we all take some time out regularly to let our minds wander, rather than just waiting for our next flight.
‘Slowness and silence force us to experiment more, or try new ideas that we normally wouldn’t think of, and this leads to improved creativity. Hopefully this trend can inspire more of us to give it a try!’
However, a team of travel experts from the website Netflights warns that this practice can also have many negative consequences.
Rawdogging during a long flight can be good for your mental strength, but relaxation and sleep also help reduce jet lag.
Passengers may therefore feel ‘worse’ after leaving the plane, if they have forced themselves to stay awake for hours.
They add: ‘Relaxing and sleeping during a flight gives your body the chance to rest and recover, minimising the potential effects of jet lag.’
Passengers who are ‘purists’ during their flight will have to decline the snacks and meals.
Experts say not eating can not only lead to “fatigue and extreme tiredness,” but also to not getting your money’s worth.
They recommend eating meals or at least snacks during long flights so that ‘passengers feel energized when they arrive at their destination’.
Passengers who drink rawdog during their flight usually avoid drinking altogether.
Travel experts have warned of the downsides of ‘rawdogging’ flights, including dehydration and exhaustion.
However, travel experts warn that ‘flying can cause dehydration, which can result in headaches, dizziness and fatigue’.
Further on in this topic they said: ‘Due to the low oxygen pressure during flights and the change in humidity, more water evaporates from our skin and lungs during flight. Therefore, it is increasingly important to stay hydrated and drink fluids during flights.’
Drinking alcohol while flying can also contribute to dehydration symptoms, which is why experts advise choosing soft drinks instead of alcoholic beverages while flying.
Some rawdoggers have reported that doing nothing during the flight has helped them with their dopamine detox.
However, experts warn that it ‘may actually have the opposite effect and may actually carry the risk of stress-increasing effects.’
They explained why doing nothing can increase stress levels: ‘Passengers who choose to stare into space during a long flight may experience increased stress. Without anything to do, they may start to overthink things and this can spiral out of control.’