Created in 2010, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos have mushroomed on the Internet, becoming as ubiquitous as makeup and weight loss videos. Maria, a 28-year-old Russian living in Maryland, has an ASMR video called Gentle Whispering that has been viewed more than 7 million times. Her hushed whispers as librarian, hairstylist, and masseuse are often accompanied by the simple sounds of folding towels, flipping through magazines and other tactile recordings. So why are so many watching these videos? ASMRs supposedly create a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck. Many claim that ASMRs help them relax, de-stress and promote sound sleep.
Those who post ASMR videos are often extremely close to their cameras and use special super-sensitive microphones designed to pick up the faintest whispers and tactile sounds. This creates a very intimate form of one-on-one communication. The videos run the gamut and include a broad spectrum of personal topics. There are ASMRs that mimic ear cleaning, scalp massages, and make-up videos where the host applies blush and eye shadow to your screen in a close-up procedure to mimic applying it directly to your face. Mock eye exams are also popular, where a white-coated ‘ophthalmologist’ shines a light into your eyes and asks you to take an eye test.
Then there are the sound-trigger ASMRs, where hosts scratch and run their fingers across a myriad of surfaces. Finally, there are the ASMR workout videos, clothing try-on videos, crunchy food videos and yes, even get high with me smoking marijuana ASMRs. Some people achieve the ASMR experience from sound alone, others enjoy the personal attention that mimics a visit to the hairdresser or the optician.
Does it work? A study revealed that 98 percent of participants used it for relaxation, 82 percent used it as a sleep aid and 70 percent for used it for stress relief. A form of synesthesia, ASMR creates a condition where sensory input experienced by one sense is perceived simultaneously by another sense. ASMR videos do have a relaxing effect on some people. But the more you watch ASMRs, the more your body and brain develops a tolerance to them. Characterized as being ‘brain tingling,’ some studies show that ASMR can help relieve insomnia, promote relaxation, and even slow the heart rate to reduce anxiety.
Production costs for ASMR videos are low. But some practitioners go big, creating scripts with specific soothing words, and using special lighting and sound levels before filming. Microphones are positioned where a viewer’s ears would be while sitting in front of their computers. Any loud or annoying sounds are later eliminated in post-production. Can you make money posting ASMRs? With viewers in the millions, some people have quit their day jobs, but they’re the rare exception.
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
