These tasks might be mistaken for examples of obsessive-compulsive disordered behaviour as they reveal a new level of meticulousness when it comes to handling food.

But in reality, these new mini-videos posted on TikTok are part of a recent trend.

The hashtag “restock” helps identify them. They have already been watched more than 9.6 billion times. And this is probably only the start.

At first sight, some of the videos seem absurd. But, a simple look at the range of hashtags allows us to better understand them and even their practical value.

Often, the videos come with a hashtag of #asmr. This abbreviation, which means “Autonomous sensory meridian response,” corresponds to a form of relaxation based on the recording of soft and repetitive sounds designed to calm.

The concept was brought to the forefront some years ago with YouTube videos featuring sounds made by the mouth, the rustling of paper, whispered phrases… In 2020, the acronym was the second most popular search on the video platform.

But not everyone is receptive to ASMR, which, in some fans, causes a tingling sensation in the head before spreading to the neck and other body parts, something akin to a combination of relaxation and euphoria.

But videos dedicated to tidying up a kitchen are also hypnotic simply because they are visual elements, without any other forms of content. That said, they do sometimes offer up some clever ideas for better storage of dry and fresh foods, not unlike the advice of organizing goddess Marie Kondo.