Brown Noise

Submission 2,126

About

Brown Noise, also known as Red Noise or Brownian Noise, is a low-frequency sound that is said to have a calming effect on people who listen to it. Purportedly, it can also ease anxiety, symptoms of ADHD, help listeners focus and sleep. Brown noise became popularized on TikTok in June 2022 as users discovered its calming properties and uploaded videos reacting to how it makes them feel.

Origin

Brownian motion, discovered by Robert Brownian in 1827, is a term used to define the random motion of particles in a liquid or gaseous state. Brownian discovered this while looking at pollen grains suspended in water through a microscope, noting how they moved despite not being alive. In 1905, Albert Einstein late published a paper explaining that this motion is caused by atoms or molecules constantly bumping into each other.^[1] Brown noise, named after Brownian Motion, is created by integrating white noise, causing the low frequencies to take precedence.

There are a variety of Brown noise samples available on YouTube from over the years, but it is unknown when the exact first mention or example of the term was used online. One of the most viewed versions was uploaded by YouTuber^[2] Jason Lewis – Mind Amend on November 17th, 2017, and gained over 11.3 million views in five years (shown below).

Spread

TikTok Trend

In 2022, TikTokers began posting videos under an original sound for brown noise talking about the positive, claiming effects that the sound has on them. On February 17th, 2022, TikToker^[3] @adhd_assist posted a video asking viewers to listen to Brown noise for a minute while listing its purported benefits, gaining over 6.8 million views in four months (shown below).

In June 2022, the sound became further popularized on the platform. On June 12th, TIkToker^[4] @rnbw.infinity.nikki posted a video saying her brain is quiet for the "first time ever" after listening to Brown noise, gaining over 7.7 million views in two weeks (shown below, left). On June 13th, TikToker^[5] @fleet.wood.mak posted a similar video, gaining over 8.2 million views in two weeks (shown below, right).

On June 17th, TikToker^[6] @bentelerski posted a video saying Brown noise makes him a "productivity king," gaining over 1.3 million views in two weeks (shown below). On June 28th, Mashable^[7] published an article about the increase in interest in the sound on TikTok. On the 29th, The Tab^[8] then published an article about the trend, exploring the benefits.