Subliminal audios

{{Warning|This article documents solicitation of homicide, instructional self-harm, and domestic terrorism threats (e.g., arson and mass casualty incitement) camouflaged behind "innocent" imagery. It also contains detailed information regarding pro-anorexia (ED) evasion tactics and medically fraudulent claims. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal ideation or an eating disorder, please contact a [https://www.befrienders.org/ global crisis helpline] or an [https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ eating disorder service] immediately.}}
[[File:A_blue_eye.jpg|thumb|165px|A common claim in the subliminal community is the ability to change physical features, such as eye color, by simply listening to audio tracks with hidden affirmations.]]
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'''Subliminal audios''' are a decentralized [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] belief system that suggests [[Subliminal messages|inaudible or barely-audible affirmations]], embedded within music or ambient noise, can bypass the conscious mind and directly reprogram the subconscious.<ref name=Vice>Apostolopoulos, Aris (16 September 2019). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3z8vm/the-bizarre-phenomenon-of-subliminal-youtube-videos "The Bizarre Phenomenon of Subliminal YouTube Videos"]. ''Vice''.</ref> This internet-born [[New Age]] practice is particularly popular with Gen Z and those susceptible to scientific illiteracy. The trend initially gained traction with online K-pop fandoms<ref name="Fitnico"></ref> in the mid-to-late 2010s and has since expanded to a global community with numerous dedicated creators. According to Social Blade, popular subliminal audio YouTube channels were gaining 1,000 subscribers a week on average in 2019.<ref name=Vice></ref> Subliminals frequently employ a specific [[Wikipedia:Internet aesthetics|internet aesthetic]] characterized by aspirational titles and curated images of idealized individuals as thumbnails, while others use generic pseudoscientific or [[Mysticism|mystical]] imagery.

Proponents, which include "submakers" (content creators) and listeners, claim these audios can bring about a wide array of impossible changes, from altering one's physical appearance (e.g., changing eye color or bone structure) to manifesting desired life events (e.g., attracting wealth or a "soulmate"). The belief is heavily intertwined with the concepts of [[Reality shifting|reality shifting]] and the [[law of attraction]], with many practitioners using subliminals as a primary method. The main platforms are [[YouTube]], [[TikTok]], Wattpad, Quotev, Amino (until 2025), and dedicated subreddits, but creators increasingly use external websites like Google Docs or Rentry.co to host their claims to avoid being banned for dangerous or impossible assertions. In essence, it's a belief that you can [[Magical thinking|magically wish]] for something to happen and get it for free, as long as you're wearing headphones.

There is zero credible scientific evidence that hidden auditory affirmations, specific frequencies, or subconscious "reprogramming" can physically alter one's biology or DNA,<ref name="DailyStar">Mahdi, Ziba (24 November 2021). [https://www.thedailystar.net/subliminals-on-youtube-what-is-it-1994644 "Subliminals on YouTube: What is it?"]. ''The Daily Star''.</ref> control or influence other people's free will, manifest physical objects or circumstances, bestow supernatural abilities, or cure medical conditions or diseases.<ref name="ScareTheater">ScareTheater (2 February 2024). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN6yOqFe_CQ "The Vile World of Underground Subliminals"]. ''YouTube'' (en).</ref>

==Historical origins==
The modern subliminal community is not a new phenomenon, but rather a "Frankenstein’s monster" and "Gen Z fever dream" of four specific historical failures:

===The 1950s "popcorn" hoax===
{{main|Subliminal messages}}
The foundation of the belief lies in the 1957 claims of market researcher James Vicary, who famously stated he increased sales by flashing "Eat Popcorn" and "Drink Coca-Cola" for 1/3000th of a second during a movie. In 1962, Vicary admitted the study was a complete fabrication designed to save his failing marketing business. Despite this public confession of fraud, the myth that the human brain can be "reprogrammed" by inaudible or invisible stimuli became a permanent fixture in the public imagination.

===Hypnopaedia and "sleep teaching"===
The practice of "looping" audios overnight is a digital rebranding of Hypnopaedia, a concept popularized in the early 20th century and famously featured in Aldous Huxley's ''Brave New World'' (1932). In the novel, children are conditioned while asleep to accept their social castes. In reality, multiple studies in the 1950s (notably by Simon and Emmons) used EEGs to prove that learning does not occur during sleep; any information "learned" was actually processed during brief moments of wakefulness. The subliminal community ignores this, encouraging minors to loop audios for 8–12 hours, which leads to '''Sleep Deprivation''' and '''Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)'''/chronic '''Tinnitus''' rather than biological change.

===Cold War "mind control" and the CIA Gateway Process===
A significant portion of the community’s "technical" justification is a misappropriation of Cold War-era pseudoscience. Proponents frequently cite the 1983 declassified CIA report titled "Analysis and Assessment of Gateway Process". The document was a speculative internal report on the "Gateway Experience," a series of meditation techniques involving binaural beats (Hemi-Sync) intended to explore altered states of consciousness. The CIA ultimately abandoned the program because it yielded no repeatable or practical intelligence value.

The subliminal and [[Reality shifting|shifting]] communities have weaponized this document, claiming it is "scientific proof" that the US government discovered how to "jump realities" or "reprogram the physical body." In reality, the document contains zero references to "subliminals," "affirming," or "DNA alteration." By tying their practices to the CIA, creators create an [[appeal to authority]] that makes impossible biological claims seem like "classified government secrets," a tactic commonly used in [[Wikipedia:Online youth radicalization|online youth radicalization]].

===The "New Age" pivot and the internet===
In the 1980s and 90s, the "self-help" industry adopted subliminal tapes (often sold via late-night infomercials) to sell weight loss and smoking cessation. With the birth of YouTube and TikTok, this shifted from a commercial product to a decentralized pseudoreligion among Generation Z. The "Submaker" replaced the salesman, and the promises escalated from mundane habits to the claims of changing DNA, "respawning," or inducing medical crises like SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest). Internal documentation of the belief system is often hosted on fandom-adjacent platforms like Quotev, Amino, Wattpad, and YouTube comment sections to compensate for a lack of scientific rigor.

==Geographical distribution and linguistic reach==
The consumption of subliminal audios is a global phenomenon that disproportionately affects specific linguistic and regional demographics. According to Google Trends data, the highest concentration of search interest for "subliminal audio" and related terms is found within Spanish-speaking Latin America. Countries such as El Salvador, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Argentina consistently occupy the top rankings for search volume. This high density suggests that the Spanish-speaking community is particularly vulnerable, likely due to a combination of high social media penetration among youth and a possible lag in localized content moderation compared to English-language equivalents. Central and South American nations like Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, and Panama also show significant activity, forming a massive transcontinental network of believers.

The Anglosphere presents a unique statistical paradox. While search volume indices for the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom often appear lower in relative Google Trends rankings, the English-speaking subliminal community remains the largest and most influential in absolute numbers. This is because English serves as the "lingua franca" for the global movement, attracting hundreds of thousands of ESL (English as a Second Language) speakers from all over the globe. These users often bypass local-language content to consume high-production-value audios from major English-speaking "submakers," effectively globalizing the pseudoscience. Furthermore, established niche communities have solidified in Portuguese, French, and Turkish, while regions like Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines show emerging pockets of interest. This widespread reach demonstrates that the belief system is not confined by borders but instead follows the path of least resistance across global digital platforms.

==Platforms and digital ecosystems==
The subliminal community does not exist in a vacuum; it operates across a highly interconnected network of mainstream social media and niche hosting platforms. By utilizing apps associated with fandom and creative writing, the community effectively replaces scientific rigor with an "echo chamber" of anecdotal validation and aesthetic immersion.

*'''[[YouTube]]:''' The primary hub for the movement. Beyond hosting the audio files, the community thrives in "Community Posts" where submakers share daily updates, and in the comment sections, which function as a manufacturing floor for unverifiable "success stories." These comments often use ritualistic formatting to log perceived results, creating a false sense of empirical data for new viewers.
*'''Amino:''' Historically one of the largest hubs for the subliminal and "shifting" communities, featuring dozens of specialized groups with tens of thousands of members. However, in late 2025, the platform faced a sudden and catastrophic global outage and removal from app stores, effectively destroying years of archived "research," community guides, and centralized moderation hubs.
*'''Quotev and Wattpad:''' These platforms, primarily designed for fanfiction and quizzes, are used to host detailed "Subliminal Guides" and manifestos. The community leverages the fan-adjacent nature of these apps to frame reality-altering claims as a form of "lifestyle roleplay," blurring the line between fictional storytelling and objective reality.
*'''Reddit:''' While multiple subreddits exist, r/Subliminal is the most prominent. It serves as a clearinghouse for "before and after" photos. These images are frequently edited with filters or lighting adjustments but are highly upvoted, providing visual "proof" that reinforces the community's cognitive biases.
*'''Discord:''' Acts as the "inner circle" for the community, where users go to escape the public scrutiny of YouTube. These servers are often highly "gatekept," requiring verification to join.
**'''Echo Chambers:''' Discord facilitates real-time, high-frequency reinforcement of delusions. Servers dedicated to "permashifting" or "respawning" create a 24/7 feedback loop where users encourage each other to "detach" from reality.
**'''UGSC Hubs:''' The Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC) uses Discord to share the most lethal content that would be immediately banned elsewhere. These servers often use "aesthetic" names (e.g., "soulless," "catch-22," "lalala") and "yandere" themes to mask discussion of self-harm, depression, and "toxic" manifestations.
**'''Self-Promotion & Recruiting:''' Discord is the primary place where submakers "self-promo" their newest off-platform links (Google Docs, Rentry) to a dedicated, radicalized audience.
**'''Vulnerability of Minors:''' Despite "13+" or "15+" disclaimers, these servers are a prime hunting ground for predatory content. They often lack professional moderation, instead relying on "staff" who are themselves minors immersed in the same pseudoscientific beliefs.
*'''[[TikTok]] and Lemon8:''' These short-form, visually-driven platforms are the main recruitment tools for Gen-Z and younger minors. Lemon8, in particular, has become a secondary hub for "lifestyle" aesthetics that normalize the practice.
*'''Pinterest:''' Used extensively for "visualization boards." Users curate aesthetic imagery—such as specific facial features or idealized lifestyles—to "align their vibrations." This platform acts as a gateway that encourages minors to develop hyper-specific insecurities before funneling them toward subliminal audios as a solution.
*'''Everskies:''' A dress-up and social networking game where the community maintained a significant presence. On January 14, 2026, a major subliminal "club" with over 10,000 members was shut down by moderators for violating safety standards regarding the promotion of harmful pseudoscience.
*'''Rentry.co and Carrd:''' Often used as "off-platform" directories to host lists of affirmations that are too toxic for YouTube’s automated filters. In early 2026, infrastructure providers began a significant crackdown on the Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC), terminating accounts that facilitated the distribution of lethal or self-harm-related content.
*'''Google Docs:''' The final fallback for creators. Affirmation lists and "scientific" explanations are frequently hosted on public-view Google Docs, linked in video descriptions to evade direct platform scrutiny.

==Evasion tactics==
As platforms like YouTube and TikTok have tightened their "Trust & Safety" policies regarding medical misinformation and instructional self-harm, the subliminal community—particularly the Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC)—has developed a sophisticated system of linguistic and visual camouflage. These tactics are designed to bypass automated AI filters while remaining "searchable" to their target audience of vulnerable minors.

===Visual camouflage and "aesthetic loading"===
[[File:Café_de_Miki_with_Hello_Kitty_2017_(32060726592).jpg|thumb|180px|Common "Sanrio" and "Kawaii" imagery often utilized in "Aesthetic Loading" to mask lethal Underground Subliminal (UGSC) content from automated safety filters. (Image: othree / CC BY 2.0)]]
The community utilizes popular internet aesthetics to mask harmful content behind a facade of innocence or "cuteness." This makes the videos appear harmless to parent-filters, adults, and moderators who are not familiar with the subculture.
*'''"Soft" Aesthetics:''' Use of "Cutecore," "Kawaii," "Sanrio/Hello Kitty," and "Pink" imagery. Thumbnails often feature anime girls, K-pop idols, or "Coquette" style visuals to hide audios for "anorexia" or "self-destruction."
*'''Medical Roleplay:''' Some creators use hospital-themed emojis (🏥, 💉, 🩻) and terminology like "Your local dealer" or "Welcome to your appointment" to frame lethal audios (like "SCA/Cardiac Arrest") as fictional roleplay or "ASMR" experiences, thereby evading "Promotion of Self-Harm" bans.
*'''Abstract Thumbnails:''' Using completely blank thumbnails or a single, unrelated image (e.g., a picture of a kitten) with a non-descriptive title like "⠀" (a blank character) or "(-)" to prevent the video from being flagged by visual AI scanners.

===Linguistic and orthographic evasion===
To prevent "Keyword Banning," creators frequently use "Leetspeak," special Unicode characters, and "Coded Slang" that AI crawlers cannot easily interpret.
*'''Character Substitution:''' Using symbols to replace letters in banned words:
**'''Drugs/Pills:''' "dr0g4s," "dugs," "xans," "p!lls."
**'''Eating Disorders:''' "4n4" (Anorexia), "b!nge," "w.l" (Weight Loss), "svelte," "🦴."
**'''Self-Harm/Death:''' "d3ath," "end it," "r4ype" (Rape), "bl00d," "c4nc3r."
*'''Unicode and Font Manipulation:''' Using mathematical or script fonts (e.g., 𝔲𝔤 𝔰𝔲𝔟𝔰, 𝙫𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚, 𝓈𝓌𝒶𝑔𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈) which often bypass standard text-matching algorithms.
*'''Terminology Shifts:''' Moving away from the word "subliminal" to "formula," "bundle," "morpher," or using the initials "UG" or "UGSC" (Underground Subliminal Community) and "grv" (Graveyard) which are less likely to be flagged by generic safety filters.

===Infrastructure evasion===
Creators often move the most "toxic" or "lethal" content off-platform to avoid channel termination.
*'''"Benefits" in External Links:''' YouTube videos will have a safe title and audio, but the "benefits" (the affirmations for harm) are hosted on external, less-regulated sites like Google Docs, Carrd, Rentry.co, or Notepad links in the pinned comment.
*'''The "ASMR/Relaxation" Disclaimer:''' Creators frequently use "For entertainment/relaxation only" or "I do not own this music" disclaimers as a legal shield, even when the content explicitly instructs listeners on how to induce a medical crisis or attract illegal weapons.
*'''Private Playlists:''' Large "UG" playlists are often kept unlisted or private, shared only in "gatekept" Discord servers or specialized subreddits to avoid the "Public Community Standards" scrutiny of platform moderators.

===Evasion tactics table===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |'''Evasion Strategy'''
! rowspan="2" |'''Common Keywords & Symbols'''
! rowspan="2" |'''Intended Camouflage'''
|-
|'''Medical/Lethal Evasion'''
|🏥, 🩻, "Appointment", "Hospital Roleplay", "SCA", "Cardiac Arrest", "Immune to living"
|Masks lethal intent (suicide/respawning) as fictional "ASMR" or medical "roleplay" to bypass automated self-harm filters.
|-
|'''Pro-Ana/ED Evasion'''
|4n4, 𐂯, "Svelte", "Fragile", "Mind the Gap", "w.l", "🦴", "bestie 4n4"
|Rebrands starvation and eating disorders as "fashion aesthetics" (Cutecore/Coquette) to avoid "Promotion of Eating Disorders" bans.
|-
|'''Illegal Substance Evasion'''
|p!lls, c!ggs, "pax liberais" (liberal parents), "dr0g4s", "xans", "drugs not hugs"
|Uses character substitution and foreign languages to mask the promotion of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol to minors.
|-
|'''Identity/Racial Evasion'''
|RCTA, ETI, "desired ethnicity", "chromosomal change", "pure blood"
|Utilizes clinical-sounding acronyms to mask racial fetishization and biologically impossible claims of race-changing.
|-
|'''Infrastructure Evasion'''
|Docs/Rentry links, "Benefits in Pinned Comment", "(-)", "⠀" (blank character)
|Moves the "toxic" affirmations off-platform to external sites, leaving the YouTube video functionally "blank" or "safe" for automated crawlers.
|-
|}

==How they purportedly work==
[[File:Anatomy_of_the_Human_Ear.svg|thumb|180px|Subliminal audios claim affirmations bypass conscious logic, yet all auditory stimuli must be processed through the physical structures of the ear and the temporal lobe, making "biological reprogramming" physiologically impossible. (Image: Lars Chittka; Axel Brockmann / CC BY 2.5)]]
Proponents of subliminals claim that the practice works through a process they call "subconscious reprogramming". They posit that the brain is made up of two parts: the conscious and subconscious mind. The conscious mind, they argue, is logical and judgmental, often acting as a barrier to new beliefs. The subconscious, however, is believed to be a non-judgmental, passive entity that simply absorbs and acts on any information it is given repeatedly. This is why the community believes subliminals can be used by young people who have not been "wired" to believe that changing their appearance is unrealistic.<ref name="Reddit1">No_Oven3958 (17 April 2023). [https://www.reddit.com/r/Subliminal/comments/12qmbop/why_is_there_no_scientific_evidence_that/ "Why is there no scientific evidence that subliminals can change physical features?"]. ''r/Subliminal'' (en).</ref>

To exploit this supposed mechanism, subliminals are created by recording "affirmations" and playing them at an inaudible volume,<ref name=Vokey>Vokey, John R. (1992). [https://www.appstate.edu/~steelekm/classes/psy2510/Vokey.pdf "Subliminal Messages"]. In A. P. D'Amato, S. E. Hampson, A. R. E. C. (Eds.), ''The Psychology of the 21st Century: An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology''. The Ohio State University Press. p. 237–250.</ref> sometimes as high as 17500 Hz, with the laughable claim that this bypasses the conscious mind. This assertion is a classic example of [[technobabble]],<ref name="Conner"></ref> as most consumer audio devices cannot even reproduce sound at that frequency.<ref name=Vokey></ref> The community also misuses terms like "neurology" and [[neuroplasticity]], a legitimate scientific term, to lend a veneer of credibility to their claims that a person can alter their physical body and "shift their biology." Some even claim that "[[traditional Chinese medicine]] or [[Ayurvedic medicine]]" are brushed off by science for the same reasons as subliminals, creating a [[false equivalence]] between an ancient medical practice and a modern, internet-based pseudoscience.<ref name="Reddit1"></ref>

The "proof" that subliminals work is entirely [[anecdotal evidence]]. The community points to "mini shifts" (fleeting sensations or feelings; including but not limited to throbbing, tingling, or a headache<ref name="Conner">Conner, Kurtis (22 March 2019). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCMaaaUdohM "The Strange World of YouTube Subliminals"]. ''YouTube''.</ref>) or "results" (before-and-after photos,<ref name="DailyStar"></ref> YouTube comments, and social media stories) as evidence. However, these can be easily dismissed as the [[placebo effect|placebo]] and [[nocebo|nocebo effects]] or [[confirmation bias]].<ref name="ScareTheater"></ref> The reason there is no formal scientific evidence, as argued by some r/Subliminal community members, is not due to a flaw in the method itself, but rather a conspiracy by "governments" and "plastic surgeons" who would lose money.<ref name="Reddit1"></ref> Others claim there's no funding for research, creating a narrative of a legitimate, yet underfunded, belief system.<ref name="Reddit1"></ref> One user even repeats the claim of a "hidden secret project by the American government," echoing the [[Reality shifting|shifting community's]] misuse of the declassified CIA Gateway Process documents.<ref name="Reddit1"></ref><ref name="DerkerBluer"></ref>

Subliminal communities often lend a veneer of credibility to their beliefs by misusing scientific and psychological concepts. One such example is the explanation that the subconscious mind is more likely to accept a statement as true the more it hears it. While this aligns with the [[illusory truth effect]], proponents present it as the method to subliminal success, rather than a psychological phenomenon that makes them susceptible to the messages.<ref name="Adrixo">Adrixo (28 June 2025). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd9ynue6kMU "SUBLIMINALS EXPLAINED BY AN EX SUBLIMINAL CREATOR | How to use them CORRECTLY"]. ''YouTube'' (en).</ref>

Similarly, some creators, such as Moza Morph, who claims to be a medical student, employ concepts like the "Law of Assumption" to explain a lack of results.<ref name="mozamorph1">moza morph (8 July 2021). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jQSvFZc1kM "Basics Of Subliminal part 1: WHAT IS SUBLIMINAL? {explained}"]. ''YouTube'' (en).</ref><ref name="mozamorph2">moza morph (11 September 2022). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBW34PCtGpo "MUST WATCH MANIFESTATION GUIDE if you feel you never get any result"]. ''YouTube'' (en).</ref> The theory states that you must assume you have already achieved your desired outcome and persist in that belief, even in the face of contradictory evidence. A key example is Moza Morph claiming that if you see bumpy skin in the mirror, you must assume the mirror is "broken" rather than question the subliminal's effectiveness.<ref name="mozamorph1"></ref>

This reliance on an unfalsifiable dogma is a hallmark of the community. In one instance, Adrixo, a self-proclaimed ex-subliminal creator, openly admits she does not care if subliminals are a "placebo effect" or "brainwashing," because as long as she gets her "desired results," the method is justified for her.<ref name="Adrixo"></ref> This mindset dismisses the need for scientific rigor. The perception of "results" is often a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the user begins to take better care of themselves, for example, through diet and exercise, and then attributes their natural physical changes to the subliminals.<ref name=Vokey></ref> Proponents explain this by claiming the subliminals "rewire" the user's mindset to make them want to take those actions, which in turn "tricks the brain" into believing the change is happening.<ref name="Adrixo"></ref><ref name=Vokey></ref>

===Misappropriated concepts===
The subliminal community frequently borrows concepts from legitimate psychology and philosophy, but distorts them beyond recognition to fit its pseudoscientific narrative. This intellectual dishonesty creates a convincing facade of credibility for those without a foundational understanding of the actual science. The belief system itself can be described as a '''Frankenstein's monster of pseudoscience''', haphazardly stitched together from a patchwork of unrelated and often debunked ideas. It takes a little from legitimate [[psychology]] and [[philosophy]], a little from debunked marketing schemes, a little from [[New Age]] mysticism, and a little from fringe theoretical physics. The result is a self-serving narrative that is simultaneously absurd and compelling to those who want to believe.
*'''[[Subliminal messages|Subliminal Messaging]]:''' This is a core concept that the subliminal community borrows from a real-world, but debunked, source. In the 1950s, a famous hoax claimed that flashing messages like "drink coke & eat popcorn" on a movie screen could influence viewers.<ref name="DailyStar"></ref> While the study was proven to be a fraud, with researcher James Vicary admitting to falsifying the results in 1962,<ref name=Vokey></ref> the subliminal community seized on the idea that hidden messages can influence a person's thoughts. They then took the idea to a completely absurd and impossible extreme, claiming that these messages can alter a person's genetics, body, or external reality, a leap that even the original, fraudulent research never made.
*'''The Power of Self-Suggestion:''' In real-world psychology, self-suggestion and positive affirmations are used to influence a person’s mindset and behavior. For example, a person who tells themselves they are confident is more likely to act confidently. However, the subliminal community blows this concept out of proportion, claiming that self-suggestion can manifest physical changes, alter genetics, or influence external events—all of which are impossible.
*'''"Thoughts Create Your Reality":''' In a grounded, philosophical sense, this means that your mindset influences your actions, which in turn shapes your life. A person with a positive outlook is more likely to seek out opportunities and persevere through challenges. The subliminal community, however, takes this idea literally and turns it into [[magical thinking]]. They claim that thoughts and "vibrations" can magically and passively manifest wealth, physical changes, or a new reality without any corresponding real-world effort.
*'''The Subconscious Mind:''' Legitimate psychology views the subconscious as a powerful part of the mind that processes information, automates habits, and manages bodily functions. It's a critical component of who we are. But within the subliminal community, the subconscious is portrayed as an omnipotent, passive entity that can be "reprogrammed" with hidden messages to achieve any goal. This completely ignores the fact that the subconscious is a part of the brain and is subject to the same biological and physical laws as everything else.
*'''Psychoacoustics and Inaudible Sounds:''' This is the branch of science that studies how humans perceive and react to sound. The subliminal community misrepresents concepts from this field to justify its beliefs. For instance, they claim affirmations are played at '''inaudible frequencies''' (such as above 20,000 Hz, or [[ultrasound]]) so they can bypass the conscious mind. While science has shown that barely audible or low-frequency sounds ([[infrasound]]) can have subtle and context-specific effects on mood or physiology, the community takes these findings to an absurd extreme. They falsely claim that these inaudible sounds can "reprogram" the subconscious to physically change a person's DNA or body, a distortion of a legitimate scientific concept.
*'''[[Binaural beats]]:''' An audio tool often used in conjunction with subliminals. A binaural beat is created when a person hears two different sound frequencies, one in each ear. The brain then perceives a third, illusory frequency, which can induce a state of relaxation or focus. While this is a real phenomenon, the subliminal community takes it to a new level of [[woo]]. They claim that specific frequencies can reprogram the brain or "resonate" with the universe to manifest desires, a fantastical distortion of a simple auditory effect.
*'''Limiting Beliefs:''' This is a genuine term in psychology used to describe a self-sabotaging thought pattern that holds a person back from achieving a realistic goal. The subliminal community, however, uses it as a weapon against dissent. They reframe healthy skepticism and rational doubt about impossible claims as a "limiting belief" that must be eliminated, often by "detaching from the 3D" (ignoring conventional reality). This creates an [[unfalsifiable]] excuse for failure and punishes [[critical thinking]], a core characteristic of a [[cult]]-like environment.
*'''[[Quantum physics]]:''' A branch of physics that studies matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level. Its legitimate, mind-bending concepts—such as superposition and [[entanglement]]—are a favorite among pseudoscientists. The subliminal community misuses these complex, real scientific ideas to make the illogical leap that a person can consciously "jump" between realities, that thoughts can physically influence the world, or that the human mind "vibrates" at a specific "frequency" to attract desired outcomes. This is a classic example of [[quantum woo]], as quantum effects have no observable impact on the human body or the macroscopic world.
*'''[[Multiverse|Multiverse Theory]]:''' The unproven multiverse theory is a central argument borrowed by the subliminal and [[Reality shifting|shifting]] communities. Proponents of these beliefs claim that the scientific theory of a multiverse proves that all infinite possibilities, ranging from the mundane to fantastical (e.g., Hogwarts, the Marvel Cinematic Universe) exist as accessible, objective realities. This is a gross misappropriation of a complex, unproven theoretical concept from physics. In reality, the scientific models for a multiverse, such as the Many-Worlds interpretation, do not suggest that these other universes are accessible or that they contain fictional characters. The community uses the scientific term to lend a false sense of legitimacy to their impossible claims, which is a classic example of [[cargo cult science]].
*'''CIA's Declassified "Gateway Process" Documents:''' This is a classic example of [[appeal to authority]] and [[cargo cult science]] shared between both the subliminal and [[Reality shifting|shifting]] communities. Proponents frequently cite declassified [[CIA]] documents, particularly those on the "Gateway Process," as proof that their beliefs are real and have been covertly studied by the government. In reality, the documents are a speculative report on altered states of consciousness, meditation, and [[remote viewing]]. While the report mentions using phased sine waves to create "beat" frequencies to influence brain activity (a form of [[binaural beats]]), it does not contain any references to "subliminals," "affirmations," "reprogramming the subconscious," "shifting," or any of the other core tenets of the community. The community simply takes the impressive-sounding source and misattributes their own entirely unrelated beliefs to it.<ref name="DerkerBluer">Derker Bluer (22 January 2025). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGkSfW1R_nc "Los TURBIOS Audios Subliminales de YouTube"]. ''YouTube'' (es).</ref>
*'''[[Third eye]]:''' A concept borrowed from Eastern spiritual traditions, where it is believed to be a spiritual organ that grants a person a deeper, intuitive understanding of the world. Within the subliminal community, this idea is used to claim that subliminals can "open" the third eye to grant users psychic abilities, higher consciousness, and supernatural powers. This is a profound misunderstanding of the original spiritual concept, which has no scientific or anatomical basis. The community misuses the term to add another layer of mystical [[woo]] and fantastical promises to the belief system.

===The anatomy of a subliminal===
The barrier to entry for creating subliminals is remarkably low, which allows anyone with a computer or a smartphone to become a "submaker." Creating your own subliminals is often seen as the "safest" and most "effective" method, a belief that creates a powerful feedback loop: a person is far more likely to believe in the audios they created themselves, which in turn significantly heightens their confirmation bias and makes them more likely to perceive a change that isn't actually there. The process typically involves using free audio software like Audacity or even Capcut, [[TikTok]]'s associated video editor. The creator records affirmations, often using a text-to-speech program like Loquendo, but some claim that recording the affirmations in their own voice is more effective. The audio is then sped up or lowered in volume to an inaudible level and layered over a background track. Some audios even claim to repeat their affirmations millions of times. In particular, the background music is where the monetization and ethical issues truly take shape.<ref name="Conner"></ref>

The community is split between "calm" subliminals, which use ambient sounds like rain or nature, and those that use popular music. The latter often uses [[copyright]]ed songs, overwhelmingly from K-pop artists, Lana Del Rey, or popular TikTok edit audios. This creates an ironic situation where creators profit from copyrighted material, all while preaching a philosophy of "good energy." These copyrighted audios are often the most popular, and their monetization is multi-layered. Submakers earn ad revenue from the high view counts on their YouTube videos, but the most dedicated fans can also pay for exclusive access to "members only" content (exemplified by Moza Morph), or even custom, paid subliminals (exemplified by Cee).

In essence, the system is a decentralized, yet highly effective, network of content creation and monetization. It exploits the low barrier to entry for creators and the desire for a "quick fix" from a vulnerable, primarily young and female audience.<ref name="Fitnico"></ref> It sells a [[placebo effect]] disguised as a scientifically proven method, all while profiting from the hopes and insecurities of its listeners.<ref name="DerkerBluer"></ref>

==Glossary and beliefs==
Like other forms of pseudoscience, the subliminal community has developed an intricate lexicon to explain its practices and justify its failures. This specialized language serves a critical social function. By turning simple concepts into impressive-sounding jargon, it creates a sense of '''secret knowledge''' and [[Groupthink|in-group]] status for its adherents. This jargon acts as a form of [[gatekeeping]], allowing veteran users to easily identify and dismiss outsiders or "antis" who don't understand the terminology. This creates a powerful '''"[[us vs. them]]" mentality''', insulating the community from external criticism and reinforcing the belief that only those on the inside can truly understand the "science" behind the practice.

===Core concepts and mechanisms===
*'''Subliminals:''' The core component of the belief. Proponents claim these are audios containing hidden or inaudible positive statements. These affirmations are allegedly absorbed by the subconscious mind without conscious resistance, leading to desired changes.
*'''Affirmations:''' The "hidden" content within subliminals. These are phrases that describe a desired outcome in the present tense, such as "My eyes are a beautiful shade of blue," "I have a perfect, straight nose," or "I am a millionaire."
*'''Subconscious Reprogramming:''' The purported mechanism by which subliminals work. Proponents believe that by repeatedly listening to affirmations, they are "reprogramming" their subconscious mind to alter their physical reality. This is a gross misunderstanding of both neuroscience and psychology, as a person's subconscious is not a programmable tape recorder but a complex aspect of their mind tied to the physical brain.
*'''Formula:''' A proprietary and often secret method that "submakers" claim to use to create their audios. This term is pure marketing, with creators assigning impressive-sounding names like "XT-01" or "SSS-5" to their unique formulas. The intent is to create a false sense of intellectual property and scientific rigor, convincing users that their audios are more potent or effective than those of other creators.
*'''"Mind is unlimited" / "Shift your biology":''' A core belief that claims the human mind has the power to override genetics, anatomy, and the laws of physics.
*'''Neurology:''' A legitimate scientific term that the community misuses to give a false sense of credibility to their claims about how the subconscious mind works.
*'''[[Binaural beats]]:''' An audio tool often used in conjunction with subliminals that claims to alter brain activity through specific frequencies.
*'''17500 Hz:''' A specific, unverifiable claim that subliminal affirmations are played at a high-frequency audio level so you cannot "consciously interfere." This is a perfect example of [[technobabble]] designed to sound scientific while being easily debunked, as most consumer devices cannot accurately reproduce sound at this frequency.

===The belief system and justifications===
*'''Manifesting:''' The act of using subliminals and affirmations to attract a desired outcome. It operates on the [[magical thinking]] premise that a person's thoughts and emotional state can directly influence objective reality.
*'''[[Law of Attraction]] (LOA):''' A fundamental [[The Secret|New Age]] belief that is the philosophical backbone of many subliminal users. It is the idea that "like attracts like," and that a person's thoughts and focus can directly manifest changes in their external world. Within the subliminal community, this belief is used to justify the idea that hidden affirmations can attract a "desired reality" or physical changes simply through mental intention and repetition. The entire premise is an [[unfalsifiable]] bit of [[woo]].
*'''Law of Assumption:''' Presented as a superior and more "healthy" alternative to the Law of Attraction. This belief claims that simply assuming one has their desired reality is enough to make it manifest, without the need for constant positive energy or "high vibrations." It is a subtle shift from passive wishing to active self-delusion, making the user responsible for maintaining a fictional mindset.
*'''"State of Lackness" vs. "State of Abundance":''' Core dogma of the Law of Assumption. A "state of lackness" is the conscious recognition that one does not have their desired outcome, which is believed to sabotage results. A "state of abundance" is the self-delusion that one already has their desired outcome. This provides a psychological shield against disappointment, as any failure can be blamed on the user's inability to maintain the "correct" mental state.
*'''"Live in the end":''' A phrase used to describe the practice of living as if one has already achieved their desire. The community claims this is not a "technique," but a "reaction" to a true assumption. This adds another layer of [[unfalsifiability]]; if it doesn't work, it's not because the method is flawed, but because the user was only "pretending" to live in the end.
*'''Limiting beliefs:''' A concept grossly misappropriated from psychology and a key piece of [[The Secret|Law of Attraction]] dogma. This is the idea that any skepticism or lack of absolute belief in the process will "limit" the results. In reality, it serves as another unfalsifiable excuse for failure; if an outcome doesn't manifest, it's because the user simply didn't "believe hard enough," not because the system is inherently flawed. No amount of belief can override objective reality.
*'''"Take Action" vs. "Behavior is Automatic":''' This highlights a fundamental schism in the community. Some proponents believe that listening to subliminals is all that's required, and that any necessary real-world action will be automatically triggered by the subconscious. This is a crucial element of the passive, escapist nature of the belief system.

===Practices and rituals===
*'''Playlist:''' A user's custom collection of subliminal audios, typically created on a platform like YouTube. The daily ritual of listening to this playlist can take on a quasi-religious significance, with users meticulously ordering their audios and adhering to strict listening schedules, believing that any deviation could prevent them from getting "results."
*'''Journaling:''' The practice of logging daily progress, often in public forums like YouTube comment sections. Journal entries typically follow a ritualistic format (e.g., "Day 1: I listened, Day 2: I lost two pounds while sleeping"), which serves to manufacture [[anecdotal evidence]] and create a [[Wikipedia:Spectacle (critical theory)|spectacle]] of progress for the community. A inside joke among users is that many who start these journals stop updating them after a few days, which the community dismisses as a normal part of the journey when, in reality, it's a quiet testament to the fact that no genuine "results" were achieved.
*'''Drinking Water:''' Users are frequently instructed to drink large amounts of water while listening to subliminals. This common-sense advice is reframed as a mystical necessity, an essential part of the "process" that is somehow required for the affirmations to "work." This is a classic example of [[cargo cult science]], where a logical and benefitial practice (staying hydrated) is attached to a pseudoscientific ritual to make the ritual feel more legitimate.
*'''Wearing Headphones:''' The advice to use headphones while listening to subliminals is considered a non-negotiable rule by many in the community. The belief is that headphones ensure the inaudible affirmations reach the subconscious mind effectively, especially for audios that include [[binaural beats]]. In reality, this is a ritualistic practice that creates a focused, immersive experience, making the user more susceptible to the placebo effect.
*'''[[Angel Numbers|Angel numbers]]:''' A concept borrowed from [[New Age]] spirituality and numerology. Proponents of subliminals obsess over specific number sequences, such as 111, 444, or 888, which they believe are signs from the universe that their subliminals are working or that their "vibrations" are in alignment. This is a form of [[pareidolia]], a psychological phenomenon where the brain perceives patterns in random noise. The practice encourages users to look for false signs of progress in their daily lives, reinforcing their belief system through a constant search for validation and proof.
*'''"Set a clear intention":''' A ritualistic first step in the process, where a user mentally establishes their desired outcome. It's a form of focusing their belief and purpose before beginning the subliminal.
*'''Detaching / Intention:''' A core ritual in the subliminal and [[reality shifting]] communities. Users are advised to "detach" from the need for results after setting their "intention" or goal. This serves as a convenient psychological trick: by detaching from the outcome, the user can mitigate the disappointment of a failed attempt and feel justified in trying again. It is an emotionally manipulative technique designed to preserve the belief system.
*'''Present Tense / Past Tense:''' A nonsensical rule for writing affirmations. Users are told to write affirmations in the present or past tense ("My eyes are blue") and avoid the future tense ("My eyes will be blue"). This ritualistic rule adds to the mysticism of the practice and attempts to "trick" the subconscious into believing the desired outcome has already happened.
*'''The Subconscious Doesn't Understand "No":''' A popular piece of pseudoscience in the community, this claim posits that the subconscious mind cannot process negative words like "no" or "not." Therefore, an affirmation like "I am not fat" will be interpreted as "I am fat." While it is true that positive affirmations are often more effective in psychological practice, this belief is a gross misrepresentation of how the brain processes language. Its true function within the community is to make the "rules" of subliminals more mystical and complex, while also adding another layer of justification for why a user's results might not be what they expected.
*'''"Immune to...":''' A phrase used in affirmations (e.g., "I am immune to cancer," "I am immune to breakups") that claims to provide magical protection from negative events, directly related to the "subsconcious doesn't understand 'no'" dogma.
*'''Robotic Affirming:''' The practice of mindlessly repeating affirmations in one's head, with the belief that a sheer volume of repetition will be more effective. This passive, low-effort method of "affirming" completely misunderstands how genuine psychological change occurs, which requires conscious thought and effort.
*'''Visualization:''' The act of mentally picturing a desired outcome. Shifters and subliminal users believe that if they vividly imagine having an hourglass figure or a certain eye color, this will somehow make it a reality. In practice, this is a form of simple daydreaming that can strengthen a person's belief (i.e., confirmation bias) but has no effect on the physical world. Sometimes, users may use Pinterest to create boards.
*'''Self-Talk / Internal Monologue:''' Proponents frame a person's normal internal thought processes as a form of "programming" that can be either "positive" or "negative." This allows them to present subliminals as a form of self-help that can "reprogram" a person's inner dialogue, a classic bait-and-switch that misuses psychological concepts for pseudoscientific ends.

===Community dynamics and rebuttals===
*'''Submakers:''' The creators and distributors of subliminal audios. These individuals or channels profit by monetizing their content on YouTube or selling private, custom audios. In this context, they often function as the community's authority figures.
*'''Users / Listeners:''' The people passively consuming "affirmations."
*'''"Negative" vs. "Positive" Affirmations / "Toxic" vs. "Safe" Submakers:''' A key part of the community's internal paranoia. Since subliminals are intentionally incomprehensible, users fear that unscrupulous "submakers" could embed harmful affirmations (e.g., "get a disease"). As a result, the community dedicates significant time to making their own audios and creating lists of "safe"/trusted creators, highlighting a fundamental lack of trust in the very people they rely on. One infamous example of a "dark subliminal" creator was Mind Power, also known as Amy Bass, who was accused in 2017 of including harmful affirmations in her subliminals. Users alleged negative effects like "demonic dreams," depressive thoughts, and anxiety.<ref name=Vice></ref><ref name="Korii">Bruel, Benjamin (15 July 2019). [https://korii.slate.fr/et-caetera/youtube-communaute-videos-subliminales-hypnose-commentaires-messages-caches "Sur YouTube, le troublant succès des vidéos subliminales"]. ''Korii'' (fr).</ref> After the channel was shut down in December 2018, another prominent creator, Rose Subliminals, admitted in April 2019 to adding "negative affirmations" to her videos.<ref name="Korii"></ref>
*'''UG (Underground) / Surface Community:''' A subculture within the subliminal community with a more sinister edge. The "UG" community creates and consumes audios with extremely harmful affirmations that are socially unacceptable in the mainstream or what they call the "surface" subliminal community. These can include audios to "get autism," "get a mental disorder," "attract abuse," or cause harm to others (e.g., "desired person dies").<ref name="DerkerBluer"></ref><ref name="ScareTheater"></ref> The very existence of this sub-community shatters the common claim that subliminals are a "harmless" or purely positive practice. It frequently overlaps with [[pro-ana]] communities.
*'''"Gut feeling":''' The advice to trust one's own intuition when choosing a subliminal. In a community with a pervasive fear of "negative affirmations," this serves as the primary method of quality control, replacing objective scrutiny with subjective feelings.
*'''"Subliminal bop":''' A slang term used to describe someone who listens to many different subliminals from various creators, often contradicting the advice to stick with a limited playlist.
*'''"Tricks your brain":''' A phrase used by the speaker to describe how combining physical action with subliminal listening can supposedly force the body to change. It's a telling admission that the process relies on psychological manipulation rather than genuine magic.
*'''Mini Shift:''' A term used in both the subliminal and [[reality shifting]] communities to describe a small, subjective experience that proponents believe is a sign of a successful or "working" subliminal. Examples include a user feeling a physical sensation like a tingling in their face or seeing a flash of light. These experiences are celebrated as a form of "proof" and are used to encourage users to continue listening, even though they are likely a result of the [[placebo effect]] or a psychological phenomenon known as hypnagogic hallucination.
*'''"I don't care if it's placebo":''' A powerful and very common retort used by proponents. This phrase is the ultimate intellectual retreat, as it acknowledges the possibility of the placebo effect but dismisses its importance. By saying this, a person admits they prioritize their subjective experience and belief over objective truth, effectively ending any rational debate.
*'''"But I have results!":''' A common, unfalsifiable retort used by proponents to dismiss any arguments about the placebo effect. It's the ultimate [[appeal to personal experience]] that shuts down any reasoned debate.

===Internal contradictions and excuses===
*'''Exaggerated Affirmations:''' The practice of deliberately crafting completely impossible affirmations (e.g., "I lose 10000kg every time I breathe"). The rationale is that such absurd claims supposedly have more "power" or work faster than more mundane ones. In reality, this is a tactic to induce a stronger [[placebo effect]] by engaging the user's imagination in a more dramatic way, all while reinforcing the community's dogma that nothing is truly impossible. If subliminal audios truly worked, this would be unnecessary.
*'''Forced Subliminals:''' A type of subliminal audio that promises faster or permanent results through more potent affirmations, often implying a more aggressive or powerful technique.
*'''One Listen:''' A popular and highly appealing marketing claim that a subliminal can deliver permanent, instantaneous results after being played only once. This is a biologically and psychologically impossible claim that feeds into the community's desire for instant gratification. It directly contradicts the more common, though equally flawed, dogma that repetition over weeks or months is required for a subliminal to "work."
*'''Blockages:''' A convenient [[escape hatch]] for why subliminals don't produce results. A "blockage" is an unspoken, often unidentifiable, obstacle within the user's mind that supposedly prevents them from receiving the affirmations. This is a classic example of [[Blaming the victim|victim-blaming]], shifting responsibility from the impossible premise to the user's supposed internal flaws.
*'''Reverse results:''' A supposed phenomenon where a user experiences a negative or opposite outcome from their desired one (e.g., listening to a "clear skin" subliminal and developing a rash). Proponents use a number of unfalsifiable explanations for this, such as claiming the subliminal was "toxic" or contained negative affirmations. In reality, these are likely just a product of the [[nocebo]] effect, where a person's belief that they will be harmed leads them to experience negative subjective symptoms. The term is yet another defense mechanism for the community, as it allows them to explain away a negative outcome without having to question the core belief that subliminals work.
*'''Booster:''' A subliminal audio that is purportedly designed to "speed up" or "enhance" the results of other subliminals. The existence of these audios is a tacit admission that the original subliminals often don't work on their own and require an additional ritual to maintain the user's belief. In reality, boosters simply strengthen the [[confirmation bias]] and [[placebo effect]], reinforcing the user's belief in the overall practice.
*'''Clashes / Flushes:''' The idea that listening to too many different subliminals can cause "clashes" or conflicting affirmations in the subconscious, which prevents results. To "fix" this, users are advised to listen to a "flush" subliminal, which is designed to erase all previous affirmations. This ridiculous concept treats the human subconscious like a tape recorder that can be erased and rewritten at will.
*'''Limiting beliefs:''' A concept grossly misappropriated from psychology and a key piece of [[The Secret|Law of Attraction]] dogma. This is the idea that any skepticism or lack of absolute belief in the process will "limit" the results. In reality, it serves as another unfalsifiable excuse for failure; if an outcome doesn't manifest, it's because the user simply didn't "believe hard enough." No belief can override objective reality.
*'''The Ego / Conscious Mind:''' In this community's lexicon, the ego is a self-sabotaging force that provides "negative feedback" and prevents affirmations from working. They believe the conscious mind and its logical skepticism must be bypassed in order to achieve results, which is a convenient way to dismiss critical thinking as a negative quality.
*'''[[Illusory truth effect|Illusory Truth Effect]]:''' This is a phenomenon that the community ironically co-opts to explain why subliminals "work." The illusory truth effect is a real psychological bias where repeating a false statement makes it seem more true. Proponents of subliminals mistakenly believe that this is the mechanism by which their audios alter reality, rather than a psychological bias that keeps them believing in the practice itself.
*'''"The Subconscious Understands All Languages":''' This is a bizarre claim that has emerged with the community's global expansion into languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, and Turkish. Proponents believe that the subconscious mind can understand affirmations in any language, even one the listener doesn't speak. This defies all of modern [[linguistics]] and neuroscience, as language acquisition is a complex cognitive process that requires conscious learning and exposure. The belief treats language not as a system of learned communication, but as a universal "vibration" that the mind can automatically process, providing a convenient excuse for users to listen to any audio they find, regardless of whether they understand its content.

===Outcomes and community terms===
*'''Benefits / Results:''' The promised outcomes of listening to a subliminal audio. The term "results" is typically used to refer to any change, no matter how small or subjective, that a user experiences. These are often presented as "proof" in the form of before-and-after photos, which are highly susceptible to confirmation bias and photo editing. YouTube comments might also misattribute fleeting sensations (e.g. feeling a tummy ache when listening to a "weight loss" subliminal) to the audio.<ref name="Fitnico"></ref>
*'''Calm Audio:''' A type of subliminal audio that is contrasted with the more common versions that use copyrighted popular music. "Calm" subliminals use non-copyrighted, ambient sounds like rain, white noise, or gentle instrumentals to mask the affirmations. They are often presented as a more serious or meditative form of the practice, which is an attempt to create a false sense of legitimacy and maturity. However, they are still delivering the same impossible claims as the versions with pop music, simply with a more serene backdrop.
*'''Desired... (e.g., "Desired Person Loves You," "Desired Eye Color"):''' A common buzzword that allows listeners to [[Psychological projection|project]] their specific fantasies onto a generic audio. This term is foundational to the practice, enabling the illusion that an audio can manifest highly specific, personal outcomes without a logical explanation.
*'''Anti:''' A term used in both the subliminal and [[Reality shifting|shifting]] communities to stereotype and "[[other]]" skeptics. The term is a blatant [[strawman fallacy]], as it creates a caricature of a critic as an angry, hateful, and closed-minded person. By labeling any dissenter as an "anti," the community can dismiss all criticism without having to engage with the actual points being made and reinforce the [[echo chamber]].
*'''Demotivating:''' A term used in the shifting and subliminal to describe dissent or criticism, subtly implying that it creates a sense of [[Cognitive dissonance|cognitive dissonance]] and discourages a person from continuing with the practice. This allows the community to reframe logical arguments as a form of personal attack.
*'''WL:''' Short for weight loss, used to bypass YouTube's medical misinformation standards. Can overlap with [[pro-ana]] communities.
*'''Glow-ups:''' A popular Gen-Z slang term used to describe the desired physical transformations, such as changing one's appearance, losing weight, or getting clearer skin. It's the ultimate promise of the subliminal community.
*'''CC (Carbon Copy):''' Short for "carbon copy," this is the belief that one can use subliminals to perfectly replicate the physical body of another person.<ref name="Conner"></ref> This can be a celebrity, a character from a movie, or a completely fictional creation. The concept is a perfect illustration of the community's complete detachment from reality, as it is a biologically impossible claim that ignores genetics, anatomy, and the fundamental laws of human development. It is the most extreme form of the "desired appearance" claim, promising a level of transformation that is pure fantasy.
*'''Aegyo Sal:''' A term from K-pop beauty standards that refers to the small pocket of fat under the eye, which is considered a sign of youth and cuteness. The subliminal community has co-opted this specific beauty standard by creating audios that promise to magically give users an "aegyo sal." It capitalizes on a niche, hyper-specific beauty ideal to manufacture insecurity and promote a biologically impossible form of cosmetic change.
*'''RCTA (Race Change To Another):''' A term used to describe subliminal audios that promise to completely change a user's [[Racialism|race]] or ethnicity.<ref name="Tran">Tran, Emi Tuyetnhi (15 November 2021). [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/race-change-to-another-trend-online-rcna93759 "Inside the online world of people who think they can change their race"]. ''nbcnews.com'' (en).</ref> The community's own marketing explicitly claims to rewrite DNA, RNA, and chromosomes to match a specific racial or ethnic group. This is a biologically impossible and ethically repugnant idea that dismisses genetics and the real-world experiences of different ethnic groups. While these are controversial even within the subliminal community, their very existence highlights the dangerous lengths to which the belief system is taken. It preys on people's struggles with identity and self-image, offering a magical solution to complex, deeply personal issues. These audios are a prime example of the extreme and harmful fantasies that can take root in a community that rejects science and embraces impossible claims.
*'''[[Looksism|Looksmaxxing]]:''' A term that originated in toxic, misogynistic online communities, particularly from [[incel]] forums. It has since been adopted by certain segments of the subliminal community. The core belief is that a person can improve their physical appearance to its "maximum potential" to gain more social and romantic value ("rizz"), often to the detriment of their mental health. Within the subliminal community, this idea is used to promote audios for hyper-specific and often unattainable physical changes, encouraging a dangerous obsession with appearance and a shallow, appearance-based worldview.
*'''Wonyoungism:''' A specific [[Wikipedia:Internet aesthetics|internet aesthetic]] and lifestyle trend named after the K-pop idol [[Wikipedia:Jang Wonyoung|Jang Wonyoung]]. This is a perfect example of how subliminals latch onto specific celebrity fandoms to create highly aspirational and often unattainable ideals of beauty and perfection. Subliminals for "Wonyoungism" promise to give users her specific facial features, body proportions, and personality traits.
*'''Binge Flush:''' A term used to describe a subliminal audio that claims to magically negate the consequences of overeating, marketed towards individuals with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Proponents believe that by listening to these audios, they can "flush" out calories, fat, or other perceived negative effects of food, particularly ultra-processed foods (UPF) after a period of overeating. This is an extremely dangerous and ethically bankrupt concept that preys on people with eating disorders. It promotes a form of [[magical thinking]] that denies the basic laws of biology and nutrition. The promise of being able to eat without consequence can deepen a person's unhealthy relationship with food, prevent them from seeking professional help for a genuine medical condition, and lead to a worsening of their eating disorder.
*'''Supernatural Audios:''' Audio tracks that claim to grant the listener non-human traits or abilities (e.g., becoming a "vampire" or "mermaid," or gaining flight/super-speed). While scientifically impossible, these function as a "Gateway Ideology." They lure curious innocent minors into a belief system that denies biological reality. By the time a user "graduates" to more extreme niches like the UGSC, they have already been desensitized to the laws of physics and biology, making lethal concepts like "SCA" or "Respawn" seem like achievable "spiritual" or "supernatural" outcomes.
*'''The 3D:''' A term used to refer to objective reality. Users are often told to "ignore the 3D" or "detach from the 3D" in order to achieve their goals. This is a core part of the belief that promotes dangerous levels of [[Wikipedia:dissociation (psychology)|dissociation]] and maladaptive escapism, as the user is encouraged to ignore their real-world problems.
*'''Mini-shift:''' A term used in both the subliminal and [[reality shifting]] communities to describe a small, subjective experience that proponents believe is a sign of a successful or "working" subliminal. Examples include a user feeling a physical sensation like a tingling in their face, a headache, throbbing, or seeing a flash of light.<ref name="Conner"></ref> These experiences are celebrated as a form of "proof" and are used to encourage users to continue listening, even though they are likely a result of the [[placebo effect]] or a psychological phenomenon known as hypnagogic hallucination.
*'''[[Backward masking|Backmasking]]:''' A method of creating subliminals by playing the affirmations backward. This is a classic pseudoscientific concept that has been widely debunked.<ref name=Vokey></ref> It shows the community's reliance on fringe and unsubstantiated ideas.
*'''Morphic Fields Enhancer Frequency:''' A piece of pure [[woo]] used by the YouTuber Moza Morph that claims to "insanely boost" a user's results. This term is a fusion of two pseudoscientific ideas: "morphic fields" (a concept from fringe biologist Rupert Sheldrake) and the notion that specific frequencies can alter reality. It serves to make the audios sound more advanced and powerful.
*'''Mental Diet:''' A term often used to describe the practice of controlling one's thoughts to align with their desired outcome. Within the subliminal community, listening to audios is considered a form of "mental diet" that is supposed to automatically filter out all "negative" thoughts.
*'''Respawning:''' A controversial and high-risk concept within the [[reality shifting]] and subliminal communities. It is defined as the act of permanently "severing all ties" to one's life (which they call "current reality") to inhabit a "desired reality" (DR) indefinitely. To evade platform bans for "Encouraging Self-Harm," the community maintains a dogmatic belief that a "clone" or "energetic double" remains behind to live the user's life. This provides a dangerous psychological workaround, removing the natural survival instinct of leaving loved ones behind.
**'''The "Not Suicide" Disclaimer:''' The community’s most prominent "defensive shield" is the mantra: "Respawning is not suicide." While subreddits and wikis publicly state that "dying is not a method," the Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC), as documented in forensic archives, specifically creates and distributes "SCA" (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) and "Painless Death" audios under the "Respawning" label.
*'''SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest):''' An extreme subset of "Respawn" subliminals marketed as a method to facilitate a "permanent shift" by inducing biological death. Creators often mask these videos using "medical roleplay" aesthetics to evade safety filters. While physiologically impossible for an audio file to trigger a heart attack, the harm lies in the [[nocebo]] effect, the amplification of suicidal ideation, and the encouragement of secondary lethal behaviors (e.g., caffeine/pill abuse) to achieve the "results" promised by the audio.

==Logical fallacies and cognitive biases of the community==
This section details the flawed reasoning and psychological biases that underpin the belief system and its surrounding community, revealing its pseudoscientific nature.

===Logical fallacies===
*'''Appeal to personal experience:''' The community relies heavily on this, a fallacy where a person substitutes a personal story or an anecdote for logical or empirical evidence. Proponents often point to a large number of "success stories" as proof, arguing that there is "no way they could all be fake/lying." However, this ignores that these stories are unverifiable, easily faked (e.g., through photo editing), and can be easily explained by psychological effects such as the placebo effect and confirmation bias. The core flaw of this fallacy is its failure to distinguish between a subjective, internal feeling (e.g., a vivid dream) and an objective, external fact. The popular phrase "But I have results!" is the ultimate form of this, as it is used to shut down a logical argument by prioritizing a personal, unproven feeling over a universal, verifiable fact.
*'''[[Appeal to authority]]:''' This is a core tactic used by "submakers" like Moza Morph, who has amassed millions of views on YouTube. She prefaces her videos by claiming to be a "medical student" and having her subliminals "consulted to my lecturers who are medical specialists." This is a classic [[fallacy]] used to lend a false sense of scientific credibility to her claims without providing any verifiable evidence. Similarly, skeptics, often labelled as "antis," are expected to "[[Do your own research|do their own research]]" before criticizing the belief system, which would lead them to the community's own internal documentation, like forum posts, personal wikis, and videos, which are all unverifiable, based on [[anecdotal evidence]], and [[pseudoscience|misappropriated scientific terms]]. It's a form of [[circular reasoning]] where the only "proof" is found within the [[echo chamber]] itself.
*'''[[False equivalence]]:''' A common fallacy is the comparison of shifting and subliminal audios to established, ancient religions. Proponents argue that since neither can be scientifically proven, they are equally valid, which dismisses the vast cultural, social, and historical differences. The community also draws false equivalences between [[Lucid dream|lucid dreaming]] and shifting, despite one being a proven neurological phenomenon and the other a claim of external reality alteration.
*'''[[Post hoc, ergo propter hoc|Post-hoc rationalization]]:''' This is a fallacy where a person claims that because an event happened after another, the first event caused the second. This is seen when mundane events or vivid dreams are retroactively labeled as "mini-shifts" or "results" to reinforce the belief.
*'''[[Thought-terminating cliché]]:''' The community relies on phrases like "limiting beliefs" and "shifting is as easy as breathing" to shut down debate and prevent critical thought. These slogans are not arguments; they are tools to silence dissent and reinforce the delusion.
*'''[[Appeal to ignorance]]:''' This fallacy claims that because we don't have a complete or definitive explanation for something, a specific unproven or fantastical claim must be true. The community frequently uses this fallacy to justify its beliefs. Proponents argue that because science doesn't have a complete theory of consciousness or a definitive understanding of the universe, it must therefore be possible for consciousness to "shift" or for thoughts to alter reality. This is a form of the "[[God of the gaps|God of the Gaps]]" argument, where a magical or pseudoscientific belief is inserted into the current gaps of scientific knowledge. This fallacy serves as a convenient shield against logical criticism, as a person can always fall back on the claim that "we just don't know everything yet," effectively ending any debate.

===Cognitive biases===
*'''[[Confirmation bias]]:''' This is the tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs. In the shifting and subliminal communities, this manifests as a constant search for "success stories" and a complete dismissal of the vast majority of users who fail to get results. It's a self-reinforcing bias that makes the community's beliefs seem more plausible than they are.
*'''[[Placebo effect|Placebo effect]]:''' This is a beneficial psychological or physiological response that a person experiences after receiving a fake or inactive treatment, which is triggered by their belief that the treatment will work. In the subliminal community, this effect is the most likely explanation for any positive "results" a person experiences. The simple act of believing that an audio track with hidden affirmations will make them more confident, lose weight, or get a job can cause a person to subconsciously make healthier choices, act more confidently, or notice small, positive changes in their life. These results are genuine, but they are a product of the person's own mindset and actions, not the subliminal itself.
*'''[[Nocebo|Nocebo effect]]:''' This is the opposite of the placebo effect. It is a negative psychological or physiological response that a person experiences after receiving a fake or inactive treatment, which is triggered by their belief that the treatment will cause harm. This effect is the likely explanation for the community's "reverse results" and "blockages." A person who fears a subliminal will give them a headache, make them feel sick, or cause a negative outcome is more likely to experience that outcome. The belief that a "toxic" or "negative" subliminal could cause harm is often the very thing that manifests that harm.
*'''[[Survivorship bias]]:''' A logical fallacy where a person concentrates on the successes ("survivors") of a group, while ignoring the failures ("victims") of the same group. The online subliminal community operates as a modern-day [[Wikipedia:Spectacle (critical theory)|spectacle]] of this fallacy. In forums and on YouTube, before-and-after photos and [[Anecdotal evidence|personal anecdotes]] from people who believe they got "results" are highly visible, celebrated, and upvoted. This creates the illusion that the practice is effective for a large number of people. However, this visible group of "survivors" completely overshadows the silent majority who get no "results." The lack of a response from this larger group is conveniently ignored, or worse, blamed on the individual's "limiting beliefs" or "blockages," creating a self-reinforcing [[echo chamber]].
*'''[[Dunning–Kruger effect]]:''' This is a cognitive bias where people with low ability at a task overestimate their own ability. The community's misuse of terms from quantum physics and neuroscience is a perfect example of this, where a small amount of knowledge is used to justify an impossible claim, leading to a false sense of expertise.

==A quick-fix for everything==
Subliminals are sold to a young, vulnerable audience as a magical solution to any problem, from minor insecurities to impossible dreams. The practice promotes a passive, quick-fix mentality that ranges from plausible-but-misattributed psychological effects to outright fantasy.

===The placebo effect in action: plausible, internal changes===
The most seductive subliminals are those that promise to fix internal states and habits. Audios for "confidence," "motivation to study," or "willpower" might, in fact, lead a user to feel more confident or motivated. However, this is not due to any mystical subconscious "reprogramming." Instead, it is the classic [[placebo effect]] at work. The user's belief in the subliminal gives them a renewed sense of hope and a focus on their goal, leading them to consciously or subconsciously put in more effort. The results they achieve are entirely a product of their own actions, but the credit is conveniently misattributed to the subliminal.

===Impossible but mundane claims===
Beyond these internal changes, the majority of subliminals promise physical and external changes that are biologically and logically impossible. Proponents offer audios to give a person a "button nose," "sapphire blue eyes," or to "grow 10 inches taller overnight." These claims are in direct defiance of genetics, anatomy, and the laws of biology. The logical absurdities extend to external events, with audios promising to make a "crush obsessed with you" or to help a user "skip school," promoting a form of [[magical thinking]] where a person's thoughts can override the free will of others or the rules of the world.

===The internal hierarchy of absurdity: fantastical claims===
The far end of the spectrum is a plunge into complete fantasy. The community, in its desperate quest for new goals, has created subliminals for baffling and fantastical changes, such as becoming a [[vampire]], [[mermaid]], or any other mythical creature,<ref name="DailyStar"></ref><ref name="Conner"></ref> flying (ignores all known laws of physics), or growing wings. These are the most ridiculous claims, and yet they play a key role in the community's social structure. The acceptance of these outlandish promises functions as a form of [[gatekeeping]]. By fully believing in the most absurd claims, a user demonstrates their deep commitment to the delusion and elevates their status within the community, proving they have shed all "limiting beliefs" and completely abandoned objective reality.

Conversely, some members of the community reject these fantastical claims altogether. By dismissing audios for supernatural abilities or mythical transformations, they create a false sense of rational skepticism and make more mundane, yet still biologically impossible, claims—such as changing eye color, bone structure, or height—seem somehow more plausible. This internal filtering allows them to maintain a sense of credibility, even though both the fantastical and the "plausible" claims are equally without any basis in scientific fact. This is an example of a [[false dichotomy]], where the user is led to believe that since one set of claims is clearly absurd, the other must be valid by comparison.

====Roots in pop culture====
The fantastical claims of the subliminal community show that it often uses pop culture as a foundation, effectively acting as both a form of [[pseudoscience]] and a "fandom." Creators often take advantage of internet aesthetics and idealized representations in media to create hyper-specific goals related to beauty, anatomy, and personality. These aren't just general ideals but precise standards, such as the "aura" of celebrities in iconic movie roles or the visual style of a particular music video. This directly connects to the "carbon copy" belief, a claim that one can manifest the exact appearance of another person, disregarding the laws of genetics and biology. 

This dependence on fiction extends to "[[reality shifting]]," which promises a user can move to well-established fictional universes like Hogwarts or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Similarly, subliminal affirmations promise the manifestation of supernatural abilities or transformations into mythical creatures, all drawn directly from the realm of cinema and video games. The community takes pop culture narrative devices and treats them as an accessible reality.

Thus, the audience constantly blurs the line between reality and fantasy. As an analogy, the Chinese government controversially banned [[time travel]] narratives in media, citing concerns that they could create unrealistic expectations in viewers and disrespect history. While the ban itself is an extreme example of [[censorship]], the phenomenon of subliminal audios precisely demonstrates their concern: a community actively confusing fiction with reality and developing magical, impossible expectations from an imaginary narrative.

==Logical and ethical flaws==
Beyond its scientific illiteracy, the subliminal community is rife with logical and ethical flaws that reveal its true nature as a harmful pseudoscientific movement. Its internal mechanisms are designed to insulate the belief from criticism and [[blame the victim|blame the user]] for any and all failures, creating a vicious cycle of self-deception and frustration.

===The unfalsifiable dogma===
The entire belief system is built on a foundation of [[Falsifiability|unfalsifiability]], a hallmark of pseudoscience. The premise is designed so that the system itself can never be wrong; only the user can. When a listener inevitably fails to get results, the community provides a series of convenient [[escape hatch]]es that ensure the belief system is never at fault. Any skepticism or doubt is re-framed as a "limiting belief" that actively prevents success, a classic victim-blaming tactic. This is reinforced by the idea that "The Subconscious Doesn't Understand 'No'," a bizarre rule that adds a layer of mystical complexity and punishes any form of negative thinking, no matter how rational it may be. Similarly, an invisible, unidentifiable mental obstacle called a "blockage" can be invoked at any time to explain a lack of progress.

This circular logic culminates in the ultimate intellectual surrender. When confronted with evidence that their results are simply a product of the [[placebo effect]], many proponents fall back on the retort, "I don't care if it's placebo." By saying this, they acknowledge the possibility of a scientific explanation but dismiss its importance, prioritizing personal feeling and [[Anecdotal evidence|anecdotal experience]] over objective truth.

===Creating hyperspecific insecurities and unrealistic expectations===
The community preys on the vulnerabilities of its primarily teenage/Gen-Z demographic by manufacturing a vast spectrum of hyper-specific insecurities,<ref name="Conner"></ref><ref name="DerkerBluer"></ref> teaching listeners that passively listening to an audio can be the solution to any problem. Submakers market audios for a "harmonious round chin," "porcelain skin," "beautiful heart shaped lips," or "feline eyes," creating new anxieties around features most people had never even considered. This is often framed using a veneer of scientific authority, with titles promising "scientifically & anatomically detailed" formulas and even claims of being a "virtual plastic surgeon" (as seen in the channel description of the submaker Cee). This barrage of ultra-specific, often unattainable ideals promotes deep-seated insecurity and a toxic obsession with physical appearance.

The core of the movement, however, is a fundamental promotion of passivity over action.<ref name="Fitnico">Fitnico (20 April 2021). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=215Ln30x_Ag "ENGAÑA ADOLESCENTES CON AUDIOS SUBLIMINALES"]. ''YouTube'' (es).</ref> The community offers seemingly effortless solutions to complex life problems, effectively teaching users to disengage from reality. Titles like "SLEEP = RESULTS," "buy desired home," and "successful amazon kdp business" explicitly promise success with zero effort. This is exemplified by the instruction to "detach from the 3D", an insidious command to ignore objective reality and psychological distress when it conflicts with the user's fantasy. This actively encourages dissociation and escapism, discouraging people from engaging with their real-world issues.

This passive mentality becomes truly dangerous when applied to health and identity. Subliminals recklessly promise impossible physical transformations, from changing ethnicity (e.g., "Stem Cell WHITE SKIN BOOSTER," "100% Russian DNA") and height ("GROW 10 INCHES TALLER OVERNIGHT") to curing complex medical conditions like [[autism]] and [[cancer]]. These claims are not only scientifically impossible but also ethically bankrupt, as they exploit vulnerable people seeking a magical solution to real-world problems. For example, some creators post "FULL BODY HEALING" audios that claim to "regenerate body cells & tissues" and fix a wide range of specific organ systems, from the liver to the respiratory system. The videos often include a misleading disclaimer that the subliminal is not a substitute for medical treatment, which is a transparent attempt to absolve the creator of responsibility while still profiting from the promises of magical healing. This kind of medical misinformation is so egregious that platforms like YouTube have started to crack down, with some "submakers" reporting that their channels are being terminated due to the dangerous claims of their weight loss ("WL") subliminals.

===So ''why'' are subliminals so damaging?===
The subliminal community often defends itself from criticism by claiming the practice is a "harmless" form of [[self help|self-care]]. This narrative is an [[appeal to emotion]] designed to evade legitimate scrutiny, suggesting that because a belief system "makes people happy," any criticism is an attack on a person's well-being. However, this argument has several dangerous ethical blind spots that promote insidious forms of harm.

The claim of harmlessness collapses under scrutiny, revealing a number of subtle yet damaging effects. Rather than fostering self-confidence, the community actively manufactures insecurities by promoting hyper-specific, often impossible, ideals such as "doll beauty" or the idea that one can look like a specific celebrity (often referred to as "carbon copy").<ref name="Conner"></ref> This toxic preoccupation with appearance and a constant state of dissatisfaction with one's natural body creates a breeding ground for self-doubt and low self-esteem.

The practice promotes a dangerous "hyperconvenience" mentality, offering pseudoscientific "immunity" to biological reality. This includes audios claiming that "smoking cannot harm your lungs" or that "junk food does not make you gain weight," which encourages minors to engage in health-threatening behaviors under a false sense of mystical protection. Furthermore, submakers provide medically dangerous advice by offering non-authorized "cures" for complex diseases such as cancer and diabetes, or neurological conditions like [[autism]]. This is particularly offensive to the autistic community, who largely advocate for acceptance and support rather than a "cure" for their neurological identity.

In fact, the practice is a quick-fix solution to everything from failing a test to achieving a "dream body," constantly promoting false hope and leading to a significant waste of time and mental energy that could have been spent on genuine self-improvement or professional help for listeners. This creates a psychological profile similar to a gambling addiction. The community fixates on "symptoms" or "angel numbers" as "near misses"; just as a gambler feels a rush from almost winning, a subliminal user views a tingle or a recurring number as proof they are "almost" manifesting a new reality. This keeps them trapped in a cycle of addictive hope, even as they experience no objective results.

The physical risks are equally severe. By instructing users to "loop" high-frequency audio at high volumes for roughly 8–12 hours while sleeping, the community is a direct catalyst for permanent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and chronic tinnitus. Telling a child to prioritize "subconscious reprogramming" over their physical auditory health is a form of digital battery.

When the inevitable failure occurs, the blame is placed on the user’s "limiting beliefs," leading to a cycle of self-blame and frustration. This lowering of a person's [[critical thinking]] defenses makes them susceptible to a [[slippery slope]] of other [[pseudoscience]]. After embracing one impossible idea ("hidden affirmations can change reality"), users are more vulnerable to other, often more dangerous, beliefs, including but not limited to [[reality shifting]], [[crystal healing]], specific [[fad diet]]s, or psychic abilities. The argument of "harmlessness" is also completely dismantled by the existence of the Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC). This subculture creates and consumes subliminals for genuinely malicious and harmful outcomes, such as causing harm to oneself or others.<ref name="DerkerBluer"></ref><ref name="ScareTheater"></ref> The very existence of this dark underbelly proves that the "subliminal is always positive" narrative is a self-serving fantasy.

Ultimately, the primary harm lies less in the audio tracks themselves—which are objectively incapable of altering biological reality—and more in the predatory belief system, the reinforcement of the echo chamber, and the cult-like community dynamics that isolate vulnerable individuals from rational medical and psychological support.

==Subcultures==
===K-pop subliminals===
The K-pop subliminal subculture is a prominent segment of the community, largely driven by the strict and often unattainable beauty standards of the K-pop industry. This subculture preys on the insecurities of Western fans, particularly young people, who are exposed to idealized images of idols. The practice often involves listening to audio tracks, frequently set to popular K-pop songs, with the belief that they can acquire the physical features, talents, or even the lifestyle of their favorite idols.

One of the most notable examples of this trend is "{{wpl|Wonyoungism}}," an internet aesthetic and lifestyle movement centered around the aesthetic and persona of K-pop idol {{wpl|Jang Wonyoung}}. These subliminals promise specific, biologically impossible changes like obtaining an "aegyo sal" (a small fat deposit under the eye), achieving "pale skin with pink undertones," or mirroring the body proportions of a specific idol. The use of such highly specific beauty standards encourages viewers, especially those who are not East Asian, to develop insecurities about their own appearance and to chase unrealistic ideals.<ref name="kpop_uncensored"></ref>

This subculture also features audios that promise radical transformations beyond physical appearance, such as the ability to move to Korea, "manifest" idol-level singing or dancing skills, or even change one's ethnicity to Korean. These claims are not only impossible but also serve as a form of [[cultural appropriation]], as they reduce Korean culture to a set of aesthetic features. While some users claim these audios provide confidence or motivation, others have noted that the obsessive pursuit of these results can lead to unhealthy habits and a cycle of self-doubt. The discourse within the community often pits the belief that subliminals are a harmless placebo against the argument that they are a deceptive gimmick that actively encourages the development of unhealthy self-perceptions.<ref name="kpop_uncensored">vanillantern (9 February 2024). [https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop_uncensored/comments/1amrn9j/kpop_subliminals_are_unhealthy_and_prey_on/ "Kpop subliminals are unhealthy and prey on insecurities"]. ''r/kpop_uncensored'' (en).</ref>

===UG/Underground subliminals===
Underground subliminals (often abbreviated as "UG") represent the darkest and most dangerous part of the subliminal community. While mainstream or "surface" subliminal audios promise "positive" changes, the underground subculture creates and consumes audios explicitly designed for negative and harmful outcomes. These videos are characterized by their unsettling thumbnails and titles, and they can often be found by searching for specific keywords on platforms like YouTube.<ref name="DerkerBluer"></ref> The community, often referring to itself as the "Underground Subliminal Community" (UGSC) or "Graveyard" (grv), is highly decentralized but maintains a codified set of internal beliefs.<ref name="UGSCCarrd">UGSC Internal Documentation (2021–2025). [https://web.archive.org/web/20251114234140/https://undergroundscinfo.carrd.co/# "What is the UGSC"], [https://web.archive.org/web/20251115074610/https://ugscinfo.carrd.co/ "UGSC Info Masterlist"], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20260113003255/https://dearsurface.carrd.co/ "Dear Surface Community Letter"]. ''Carrd'' (en). Archived January 2026.</ref>

Creators of these audios often target extremely vulnerable individuals, preying on their mental health struggles and insecurities. The videos can contain affirmations to acquire or worsen existing mental and neurological disorders like [[autism]], Tourette's syndrome, [[Pro-ana|anorexia]], or depersonalization<ref name="ScareTheater"></ref>, with some users claiming to be doing so to [[Self-diagnosis|get a formal diagnosis]]. Internal community documentation explicitly admits that the purpose of "UG" content is to "make symptoms of disorders more noticeable" and that the community functions as a "form of self-harm" for "clearly unstable members."<ref name="UGSCCarrd"></ref> Crucially, many UG users and makers frame active self-harm and the pursuit of illness as a "right" or a personal "choice" to be respected, rather than a life-threatening liability to be prevented by platforms or medical professionals.<ref name="UGSCCarrd"></ref> Other audios promise more malicious outcomes, such as causing harm to parents or attracting illegal substances and weapons. The community justifies these "toxic" audios as a "coping mechanism" and aggressively discourages reporting, instructing users to "block, don't report" to evade platform filters.<ref name="UGSCCarrd"></ref> The motivations behind this are varied, with many listeners describing it as a form of self-harm.<ref name="ScareTheater"></ref>

The most disturbing aspect of the UG community is its predatory side. Some creators on YouTube have posted audios and animations designed to make the listener look younger, often with descriptions and comments that suggest highly inappropriate and illegal purposes (e.g., "loli"). The UGSC maintains an internal hierarchy, distinguishing itself from the "Surface" community by its focus on "taboo topics" and its rejection of "toxic positivity" in favor of "self-destructive behavior."<ref name="UGSCCarrd"></ref> The existence of these videos and their high view counts reveal a shocking underbelly of the community that operates outside the typical realm of "[[self help|self-improvement]]" and [[magical thinking]], exploiting the most vulnerable users for vile purposes. The fact that platforms have struggled to remove this content has raised significant ethical and safety concerns among those who are aware of the practice.<ref name="ScareTheater"></ref>

====Instructional self-harm and child endangerment====
[[File:Atrial_fibrillation_vs._normal_sinus_rhythm.svg|thumb|right|300px|A comparison of Atrial Fibrillation and Normal Sinus Rhythm. The Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC) often promotes "SCA" audios designed to induce heart failure; however, auditory affirmations cannot physically override biological cardiac electrical systems. (Image: Peterhcharlton / CC BY 4.0)]]
Perhaps the most lethal subset of the UG community involves "Respawn" or "SCA" (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) audios. These are marketed as a method for "[[Reality shifting|shifting]]" out of this reality by inducing biological death. One such audio explicitly lists its affirmations as: "I'm gonna have a cardiac arrest right now... my heart will stop right now... I'm immune to living." Prominent creators in this niche frame these lethal events as medical "hospital roleplay" to bypass safety filters, with some titles promising a "painless" heart attack tonight.<ref name="UGSCCarrd"></ref> While technically subliminals cannot actually induce a heart attack on their own, the harm lies in amplifying a minor's existing suicidal tendencies, potentially affecting their heart rate through extreme fear or the [[nocebo]] effect, and the promotion of genuinely harmful secondary habits. Users on comment sections have documented combining these audios with dangerous behaviors such as abusing pills to overdose or consuming lethal amounts of caffeine to force a physiological "result."

====Soliciting murder and mass casualty events====
Beyond self-destruction, the Underground Subliminal Community (UGSC) serves as a host for content that explicitly solicits and encourages violent crime against third parties. Using the same "aesthetic loading" and "algospeak" tactics used to hide self-harm, submakers create audios designed to "manifest" the death or physical suffering of specific individuals, family members, or the general public.

Mainstream platforms like [[YouTube]] host thousands of videos with titles such as "Kill Desired Person," "Dead Dead as Hell," and "Desired Person Gets a Slow, Unbearable, Painful Death." These audios often include "protection" affirmations, explicitly promising the listener they will be "unable to be a suspect," "unable to appear guilty," or "immune to legal consequences." By providing a psychological "safety net" for violent intent, these audios function as a radicalization gateway for homicidal ideation. Documented requests within the community include audios specifically targeting parents (e.g., "My Father Dies") and siblings, often categorized as "cathartic roleplay" to evade criminal solicitation bans.

====Incitement to mass casualty events and arson====
A high-risk niche of the community focuses on the destruction of public infrastructure, specifically targeting educational institutions. Audios titled "School Burns Down," "School Shooting - UG Subliminal," and "Violently Powerful Karma" explicitly list benefits such as "desired people get killed in the fire" or "manifest a school shooting." To bypass automated safety filters, these creators:

*Use "Leetspeak" and symbols (e.g., "sch✿✿l sh✿✿ting," "d!3d instantly").
*Frame the content as a "vent" or "forced karma."
*Combine the lethal intent with mundane desires like "getting online classes" or "school is canceled," luring younger students into engaging with domestic terrorism-themed content.

====Insider evidence====
Anecdotal evidence from community hubs provides insight into the community's internal logic and its real-world impact. Participants describe a gradual descent where users seeking "self-improvement" are eventually funneled into content that romanticizes abuse and terminal illness. Some users admit to seeking mental disorders to validate internal pain, while others utilize "Respawn" audios as a "painless" exit strategy for severe depression. Reported physiological effects include heart palpitations and panic attacks following the use of "SCA" (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) audios. This is reinforced by a "gatekeeping" culture where exposing the community is viewed as a betrayal, often leading to the creation of "protection" audios aimed at silencing critics or regulators. This closed-loop system of radicalized self-destruction has, in documented instances, led to near-fatal hospitalizations.<ref name="ScareTheaterUG">ScareTheater (2024). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN6yOqFe_CQ "The Vile World of Underground Subliminals"]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref name="JermBotDark">Jerm Bot (2021). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRsbcIx88M4 "the dark side of youtube subliminals"]. ''YouTube''.</ref>

The following first-hand accounts, sourced from investigative video hubs, document this escalation of harm:
*User '''@fullcapsethan''' detailed using "anorexia subliminals" and noted that the same creators promoted audios to "get autism," "get sexually harassed," and "get kidnapped," often using symbols to evade search filters.
*'''@Aries.111''' reported that an attempt to expose the community resulted in a creator targeting them with a specific "death subliminal" that remained active on the platform.
*'''@iamthemiddlechild9684''' expressed alarm regarding internal videos designed to "break your arm" or induce diabetes.
*'''@Christqueenofheavens''' admitted that using "death subliminals" resulted in a near-fatal medical crisis, while '''@Colossal_Leviathan''' reported permanent hearing loss from continuous headphone use while looping appearance-altering audios.

These accounts demonstrate that the UGSC and even just the broader surface/"harmless" subliminal community functions as a predatory network facilitating instructional self-harm and medically fraudulent claims, frequently targeting users as young as ten years old.<ref name="ScareTheaterUG"></ref><ref name="JermBotDark"></ref>

===RCTA/Transracial subliminals===
Race Change to Another (RCTA) is a particularly controversial online subculture within the subliminal community. Proponents believe they can alter their physical appearance and genetics to manifest as a different race, most often East Asian.<ref name="Tran"></ref> The phenomenon gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, fueled by the widespread popularity of East Asian media.<ref name="Tran"></ref>

Users often engage in the practice for a variety of reasons, including a deep fascination with a particular culture or a desire to be seen as "exotic" or "unique."<ref name="Tran"></ref> Some psychologists suggest that for white individuals, this can be a misguided attempt to escape feelings of "white shame" or guilt over their racial identity.<ref name="Tran"></ref> Conversely, some people of color have cited a desire to change their race after facing racism and prejudice.<ref name="Tran"></ref>

Experts, however, unequivocally state that changing one's race is biologically impossible.<ref name="Tran"></ref> They argue that race is a social and cultural construct, not a genetic reality that can be altered through affirmations or audio frequencies. Critics also contend that RCTA is a form of [[cultural appropriation]] and fetishization, as it focuses on an idealized, aesthetic version of a race while ignoring the systemic [[racism]] and prejudice that members of that group face in reality.<ref name="Tran"></ref> This belief is further supported by the use of outdated and offensive terms like "mongoloid skull" in some subliminal titles and affirmations.<ref name="Tran"></ref>

The community's claims have been compared to the experiences of [[transgender]] people, but activists and psychologists strongly reject this comparison and have labelled it as [[transphobia|transphobic]]. They argue that race and [[gender identity]] are fundamentally different; race is an external social hierarchy, while gender identity is an internal sense of self.<ref name="Tran"></ref>

==See also==
{{div col|2}}
*[[Anecdotal evidence]]
*[[Law of Attraction]]
*[[Reality shifting]]
*[[Confirmation bias]]
*[[Magical thinking]]
*[[New Age]]
*[[Nocebo]]
*[[Pseudoscience]]
*[[Placebo effect]]
*[[Pro-ana]]
*[[Quantum woo]]
*[[Tulpa]]
*[[Otherkin]]
*[[Woo]]
{{div col end}}
{{otherlang
|es=Audios subliminales
|fr=Audios subliminaux
|pt=Áudios subliminares}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN6yOqFe_CQ "The Vile World of Underground Subliminals"] by ScareTheater (YouTube). A detailed video exposing the dark and harmful side of the subliminal community.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCMaaaUdohM "The Strange World of YouTube Subliminals"] by Kurtis Conner (YouTube). A video essay that critically analyzes the psychology behind the phenomenon and its flaws.
*[https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3z8vm/the-bizarre-phenomenon-of-subliminal-youtube-videos "The Bizarre Phenomenon of Subliminal YouTube Videos"] from Vice. A report that documents the history of the trend and its dramatic, and frequently harmful, community scandals.
*[https://www.appstate.edu/~steelekm/classes/psy2510/Vokey.pdf "Subliminal Messages"] by John R. Vokey. An academic paper that debunks the classic myths and hoaxes of subliminal messaging, providing a scientific foundation for the article's claims.
*[https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=subliminal%20audio&hl=en-GB Google Trends search for "subliminal audio"] (accessed on 7 August 2025). Data showing the global popularity of the trend, which grew exponentially in the COVID-19 pandemic, and its particularly strong audience in Spanish-speaking countries.

===Wikipedia===
'''Warning:''' This section contains links to articles regarding documented digital harms, including self-harm and radicalization. If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact a local crisis helpline.

*{{wpa|Quackery}} – The promotion of fraudulent or ignorant medical practices; classifies "Cure Cancer" and "Biological Shifting" as medical fraud.
*{{wpa|Body dysmorphia}} – The key psychological insecurity exploited by submakers to sell biological changes.
*{{wpa|Dissociation (psychology)}} – Relates to the community's "detach from the 3D" ideology. 
*{{wpa|Maladaptive daydreaming}} – The primary driver of "permashifting" addiction.
*{{wpa|Noise-induced hearing loss}} – Permanent physical injury caused by looping high-frequency audios at high volumes.
*{{wpa|Munchausen by Internet}} – Relates to the "manifesting symptoms" trend for digital validation.
*{{wpa|Internet aesthetics}} – Provides context for how subcultures use visual trends (e.g., "Cutecore," "Coquette," "Sanriocore") to camouflage harmful content from safety filters.
*{{wpa|Looksmaxxing}} – A toxic, appearance-obsessed subculture that fuels the community's preoccupation with "perfect" facial features and unattainable beauty standards.
*{{wpa|Blue Whale Challenge}} – Precedent for digital suicide contagion and instructional self-harm.
*{{wpa|Momo Challenge}} – Precedent for harmful content "spliced" into child-targeted platforms.
*{{wpa|Online youth radicalization}} – Categorizes the pipeline from "surface" to "underground" subliminals.
*{{wpa|764 (organization)}} – Context for organized sadistic online exploitation.

==References==
{{Reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:New Age]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Sound woo]]

Categories: Internet culture, New Age, Pseudoscience, Sound woo