Pudding mit Gabel, or pudding with a fork, is a new German trend that took over social media. The concept is simple: a group of people sitting in a park and eating pudding with a fork. The trend started in Germany and quickly spread all over the world, with people in Sydney, Australia, participating on the stairs of the opera house, and others in New York in Central Park. The trend was so popular that it took over our very own lower field on Wednesday, October 8th! McGill students are often found participating in online trends coming from all over the world, serving as a testimony to our diverse community.
When asked about the appeal of this trend, the most prominent answer was its “simplicity”. Eating pudding with a fork is seen as a very accessible activity that adds a bit of whimsy to everyone’s daily routine, especially during midterm season. Some users online speculate that the trend is popular because Gen Z is desperate for human interaction and a sense of community. Some argue that naturally emerging connections between individuals are becoming rare considering the rise in dating app usage since the pandemic. There are also apps such as Wizz or Yubo, that use the same concept as dating apps but to find friends.
The popularity of these apps proves that people find it more challenging to meet people authentically, and would rather rely on an app to do so. Online trends such as pudding mit gabel allow people to meet in authentic ways without having the social pressure of approaching and starting an interaction out of thin air with a new person. Rather, people just have to gather in the same spot and they already have something in common – the will and curiosity to participate in such an event.
Other online users argue that simple trends, such as eating pudding with a fork, are the products of difficult economic times. In the last two years, Montreal has experienced a 10% rent increase. Grocery prices are also on the rise and are expected to keep increasing in the coming months. These expenses on top of tuition fees can be a financial burden and stress for students. The simplicity of Pudding mit Gabel and its financial accessibility would be what makes it so appealing to certain individuals, especially amongst younger generations and students.
Whatever the socioeconomic reasoning behind eating pudding with a fork, it seems McGill students have found that joy, like dessert, is best shared – even if it requires a little creative utensil work.
