By skyforbes 
TikTok is where trends are born. From whipped coffee to “girl math,” it’s a constant parade of entertainment and questionable life advice. Recently, a new corner of the app has popped up: PrepTok.
These are the videos where creators show off their bug-out bags like they’re fashion hauls — complete with pastel flashlights, crystal keychains, and granola bars that match the aesthetic of their water bottles.
It’s cute. It’s viral. But let’s be honest: if the power grid collapses tomorrow, the influencer with a color-coordinated survival kit is not the one you want to follow into the wilderness.
Because here’s the truth: real emergency preparedness doesn’t go viral. It’s not glamorous, it’s not cute, and it almost never fits into a 30-second trending audio clip.
When Aesthetic Prepping Meets Actual Disasters
In 2021, the Texas winter storm left millions without power for days. TikTok lit up with videos of people melting snow in bathtubs just to flush toilets. Suddenly, that pastel water bottle didn’t look so practical.
During Hurricane Ian, Florida residents watched grocery shelves empty in less than 24 hours. Toilet paper, bread, bottled water — gone faster than you can say, “Link in bio.”