What Is A 'Skinwalker Alert' And Are Skinwalkers Real? The Viral TikTok Videos Explained

TikTokers are freaking out over the increasing presence of skinwalker alert videos on the app. The videos seem to show TikTokers receiving warnings that terrifying cryptids known as skinwalkers are in their area, warning them to get to safety. But what is a skinwalker and are these alerts real? Here's what you need to know.

What Is A Skinwalker And Are They Real?

In folklore, a skinwalker is a shape-shifting creature that can purportedly turn into any animal it chooses. According to rumors, skinwalkers come from Navajo culture, and legends and stories about them have been floating around for decades. A skinwalker even appeared in a 1994 episode of The X-Files.

Despite all these stories, legends and the occasional alleged sighting, there has been no known proof that skinwalkers exist. The idea is scary and intriguing, though, making skinwalkers a popular monster in online creepypastas, especially on TikTok, where users routinely make videos about them.

What Is A Skinwalker Alert?

A skinwalker alert is essentially a type of emergency broadcast sent to citizens by a governing body warning them about the presence of skinwalkers in their area. The alerts typically make a loud noise and feature text telling people to get into a safe area to avoid harm. Sometimes they warn about a single skinwalker, while other times, they warn about multiple skinwalkers.

Videos claiming to showcase these alerts started popping up on TikTok and YouTube in 2021 and have become increasingly popular over the following years. However, the videos appear to be fake and are simply made for a quick scare, despite how real some of the alerts in the videos appear.

How Are Skinwalker Alerts Used In Memes?

Skinwalker alert videos are most popular on TikTok. Most of the videos show someone documenting their experience through a skinwalker alert, often showing the alert itself and what they were doing when it went off. The videos then tend to show the user packing up emergency supplies and heading for safety.

Recently, videos have been going viral purporting to show skinwalker alerts going off across the world, including locations like Ohio and London, England. These videos use edited clips of people panicking from movies and TV, claiming they're reacting to a skinwalker alert.

For the full history of skinwalker alerts, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.