What Is October 1st For Relationships?

October 1st has emerged as an unusual day for romantic couples to celebrate their love on social media. Over the past year, the trend of acknowledging or reflecting on relationships specifically on this date has grown tremendously. Most of the videos under the ‘October 1st’ are single people just wishing that they’ll be in a relationship so they can be posted by someone in time for October 1st. “Oh to get posted to this on October 1st,” reads the caption on one viral video with over 1 million views.

The Rise Of The October 1st Trend

The October 1st trend seems to have started spreading widely on TikTok in late 2021. Videos with hashtags like October 1st and captions acknowledging a partner or relationship on this date began going viral, accumulating millions of views. It wasn’t entirely clear why users had chosen October 1st rather than Valentine’s Day or anniversaries to publicly flaunt their relationships. Read more

Beyond The Likes: Is There Meaning Behind The Trend?

While social approval may motivate some to engage with relationship centered trends like #October1st, for many participants the meaning runs deeper. Taking to TikTok under this hashtag allows people to feel part of a positive community, however loosely defined, that celebrates the love and commitment in their lives. Particularly following the isolation of the pandemic, such displays fulfill an inherent human need to socially bond over shared emotional experiences. Even if performances are fleeting, expressing devotion publicly can strengthen intimacy within a partnership offline. It may also help normalize non-traditional relationships and showcase the diversity of modern romance. For couples who began dating in autumn or had some early romantic milestone in October, the date also carries genuine personal significance far beyond chasing fleeting virality. Their posts shed light on the very real magic and memories associated with this time of year. Rather than criticize superficiality,              Read more

We Fell In Love In October By Girl In Red

The song catapulting October 1st relationships to TikTok fame is We Fell in Love in October by Norwegian indie pop singer girl in red, born Marie Ulven. Released in November 2021 as part of her debut album if i could make it go quiet, the heartstring tugging guitar ballad perfectly encapsulates nostalgia for first love found in autumn’s warm colors and cooler breezes.

This Isn’t Girl In Red’s First Tiktok Rodeo

While new to mainstream audiences, girl in red has long attracted a devoted following on platforms like TikTok, where fans have embraced her vulnerable depictions of queerness and young love for years. Videos soundtracked to earlier songs like i wanna be your girlfriend helped elevate her profile, Read more