A gateway to porn or just a nice way to relax? What Christian parents need to know about ASMR

ASMR can be a great way for young people to unwind but it can lead to unintended consequences - Sara Taylor explores this possible slippery slope

The rise of the whisper

If you’ve ever stumbled across a video of someone whispering softly into a microphone, tapping their nails on a glass jar, or brushing the lens with a makeup brush, you’ve likely met the world of ASMR. It stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”, a phrase describing the tingling, calming sensation that some people feel when they hear certain sounds or watch slow, detailed movements. For many young people, ASMR is their bedtime routine. It helps them switch off from overstimulation, ease anxiety, and even manage insomnia.

What began as sensory comfort has, in many corners of the internet, blurred into sensuality, and sometimes slides further

As someone who regularly falls asleep listening to ocean sounds, the appeal is easy to understand. In a culture that never stops scrolling, ASMR feels like a pocket of quiet attention. It offers something most teenagers crave but rarely find, calm and care. For parents, it might even feel like a welcome alternative to gaming or TikTok trends that fuel comparison and chaos.

But as with so much online, the picture is more complex. ASMR began as a wellness tool, yet its soft tones and close-up ……