Do you ever go into Target expecting to buy just a couple of things — some mouthwash, a new disposable camera, and maybe a snack — and leave with a cartful of random items you don’t need, many of which you heard about on TikTok? And then, do you ever check your receipt as you walk out of the store and nearly collapse in utter shock at how much you spent? If that’s you (don’t worry, this was literally me the other day), then the new “30,000?!” TikTok trend is for you.
In the now-viral “30,000?!” TikTok trend, creators are feeling a bit dramatic — whether they’re complaining about how much it costs to buy three paperback books at Barnes & Noble or outing themselves with how many times they’ve unironically said “slay” in a single day, TikTok creators truly aren’t holding back with this sound. (Because yes, obviously three paperback books don’t cost $30,000, but still, why do paperback books from Barnes & Noble cost so much now?! And don’t get me started on hardcovers.)
Where did the trending sound originate?
User @prestonisoverparty first uploaded a video with the “30,000?!” sound, saying, “POV: you pick out a shirt in Urban Outfitters and see the price tag.” Creators flooded in the comment section raving about the potential of the sound, and St. Jude’s official TiKTok account even asked TikToker @prestonisoverparty for permission to use the sound.
The sound actually originates from a YouTube video that was uploaded in 2017 by 8 Passengers called “❗️Dangerous Smoke Disaster❗️.” 8 Passengers is a controversial YouTube family account led by mother and public figure Ruby Franke, who is the one who says, “30,000?!” in the now-trending sound. Over the past couple of years, the Frankes have faced numerous allegations of child abuse and child neglect, as well as have been accused of exploiting their children for millions of views. Their last video upload was around four months ago.
In the video, Ruby explains to the camera that she accidentally left some beans simmering on the stove, almost burning the entire house down and leaving a pervasive smoky smell in the house. Ruby then calls the insurance company as “The Slow Train” by Finn’s Fandango plays in the background (I have no idea why the family channel chose to put this song in the background, but that’s besides the point). As Ruby is on the phone, the insurance company tells her how much the damages will cost to fix, and she repeats the number given to her in disbelief — “30,000?!” — and starts crying.
In the “30,000?!” TikTok trend, creators are exaggerating some of their most normal moments.
While the trending sound originates from a video detailing an unfortunate (and very expensive) catastrophe, TikTok users are making light of the sound, primarily dramatizing things like the cost of their impulsive online purchases or how many times they said “like” in a conversation.
User @bella.the.rat used the trending sound to call herself out for missing too many days of school, while creator @jessvalortiz used the sound to tease Gen Z about how many Snapchat messages they receive. Other creators are using the sound to complain about the high price tags of apartment rent and concessions at the movie theater (really though, why is movie theater popcorn so expensive?!). Some users have even made the trend wholesome, with user @nesmates saying, “When you finally decided to check your TikTok dms and you see how many TikToks your bff sent you” (this is me — I check my TikTok DMs once a month, max).
Here’s how to try the “30,000?!” TikTok trend.
Fortunately, there’s so many ways you can do the “30,000?!” TikTok trend. While most creators use the sound to talk about the high costs of things (like why is a cup of coffee $7?!), the sound can also be used to dramatize any numerical situation. For instance, creator @nataliezacek chose to call herself out about how many photos she takes while on vacation, while @outtpiglet said, “POV: My friend counting how many times I said ‘like’ while telling a story.” It’s okay to be a drama queen sometimes, and the “30,000?!” TikTok trend is the perfect opportunity to do just that.