Social media users are baffled after a new travel trend, known as “rawdogging”, emerged.
The practice, also known as ‘barebacking’, describes a gruelling way of spending a flight, avoiding all forms of entertainment except basic maps or flight data.
Some participants have taken this to even greater extremes, forgoing food and drink for the entire trip, no matter how long it is.
TikTok users shocked viewers by sharing their own experiences with the trend, often recording themselves staring blankly ahead.
The move has quickly sparked concern, with people puzzled as to why some people have chosen to spend their commute without consuming entertainment and with one claiming it is “psychopathic” behaviour.
More and more people are turning to rawdogging when it comes to flying, including British rapper ArrDee (pictured)
The trend has encouraged people around the world to spend the time during a flight alone with their thoughts.
Rapper ArrDee A Brighton young man took to TikTok to share a video of himself “rawdogging” on an eight-hour flight.
He explained in the video: “I just had an eight-hour flight, no music, no food, just instructions.”
Elsewhere, British DJ and producer @oiwudini He said he set a new personal record on a flight by ‘rawdogging’ for seven hours ‘with no headphones, no films, no water, no nothing’.
“It’s incredible. The power of my mind has no limits,” he concluded in the video, which received more than 13 million views.
While the trend is appealing to some, others have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their concerns.
One of them claimed that it was “psychopathic behaviour”. He explained: “People who walk around Rawdog in any way are very scary.”
“What do you mean you’re on the subway without noise-cancelling headphones? On a plane with no shows to see? In a silent car? Psychopathic behavior.”
A British producer, known as @ojuwudini on TikTok, has racked up more than 13 million views on his ‘rawdogging’ clip
Another added: ‘People who watch dogs fly are a special kind of human. The woman next to me isn’t using the TV. She’s not reading. She’s not napping. She’s not looking at her phone.
“She just looks ahead. It’s a five-hour flight. I don’t know if I’m obsessed or terrified for her. Maybe both.”
“I will never ‘raw’ a flight, that is a trend I do not follow because… why torture yourself like that for nothing?” said another.
A fourth added: “It’s psychotic to be honest.” Another wrote: “It’s crazy. There’s no way my ADHD would allow me to do something like that.”
While it may seem like a nightmare to many, Dr Sandi Mann, a psychology professor at the University of Central Lancashire and an expert in the science of boredom, wellbeing and emotions, said there are benefits to this trend.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he said: “The new ‘rawdogging’ flight fad may seem like a fun and slightly odd trend. However, there are some real mental health benefits to be gained from it.
‘When we give ourselves time away from our phones or other stimuli, we allow our minds to wander, and this can help generate new ideas and creativity.
‘Having absolutely nothing to do or distract ourselves with causes us to experience low levels of stimulation.
“The feeling of being understimulated, or boredom as it is often called, can be uncomfortable and something we try to avoid. When we force ourselves to stay in that state, our mind starts to look inward.”
The professor continued: ‘Our brains can provide the neural stimulation that is missing from the external environment. The activation of networks and connections, the leap from ideas to images and thoughts, becomes less conscious. We stop controlling where our brain goes. This allows us to see things in new ways and tap into new insights.
‘I once carried out an experiment at the University of Central Lancashire which involved taking people off the street and putting them in a room with no stimulation whatsoever, such as music, phones or even anything to look at.
‘At first, participants found the experience uncomfortable and were anxious about doing something, but they eventually relaxed and found it reassuring.
While the trend has gained momentum in recent times, others claim it is “wild” and “psychopathic” behavior.
‘Taking time to let our minds wander allows us to daydream; both processes are catalysts for creativity.
“During this time we come up with more creative ideas and different approaches to solving problems. It also gives us a much-needed break from the stress of everyday life.”
Sandi explained that air travel is a good time to try out low-stimulus scenarios.
She noted: ‘A flight provides us with the perfect time to take a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives.
‘Putting our phones on airplane mode removes the need to keep an eye on any messages or notifications, so it’s a great excuse to put the screen aside completely and focus on our thoughts.
“While it may be difficult at first to sit on a plane and do nothing, over time we will begin to relax. It takes some patience, but it can be hugely beneficial.”
He added: “In fact, I would recommend that we all set aside some time regularly to let our minds wander, rather than just waiting for our next flight.
“Slowness and quietness force us to experiment more or try new ideas that we wouldn’t normally think of, and this leads to more creativity. Hopefully this trend can inspire more people to give it a try!”
However, a team of travel experts from the site Netflights warned that the practice can also have many negative impacts.
Rawdogging on a long-haul flight can be great for building mental toughness, but relaxation and sleep are said to help manage jetlag.
Passengers may therefore “feel worse” after disembarking a flight if they have been sitting for hours forcing themselves to stay awake.
They add: “Relaxing and sleeping during a flight can allow your body to rest and recover, minimising the potential effects of jetlag.”
Passengers who are purists about raw dogging during their flight will have to say no to snacks and meals.
In addition to not making the most of your money, experts say that not eating can cause “extreme fatigue and tiredness.”
It is recommended that passengers eat meals or at least have a snack on long-haul flights so that ‘passengers feel energized when they reach their destination.’
Passengers who choose to consume rawdog on flights tend to avoid drinking altogether.
Travel experts have warned of the drawbacks of rawdogging flights, including dehydration and exhaustion. Stock image used
However, travel professionals warn that “flying can dehydrate you, which can lead to headaches, dizziness and fatigue.”
Continuing the theme, they said: ‘With the low oxygen pressure on flights and a change in humidity levels, more water evaporates from our skin and lungs when we fly, so it becomes increasingly important to stay hydrated and consume fluids when flying.’
Drinking alcohol during flights also contributes to symptoms of dehydration, which is why experts advise opting for soft drinks instead of alcoholic beverages when flying.
Some rawdoggers have said that doing nothing during the flight has benefited them because of the “dopamine detox.”
However, experts warn that “it could actually have the opposite effect and risk increasing stress.”
Explaining why doing nothing could increase stress levels, they said: “Passengers who choose to stare into space on a long-haul flight may experience increased stress because, with nothing to do, they might start to overthink and this could spiral out of control.”
