Why Are White Women Wearing Blue Bracelets? TikTok's 'Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement' Explained

A new politically charged TikTok trend is called the "Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement." It's spawned from Vice President Kamala Harris' loss in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Basically, certain white women and men want to signal to people of color that they're not a Donald Trump supporter. Some online have decided that a blue bracelet is the best way to say, "I'm a safe space." Many are championing the movement lately, but criticism is arising as well.

So, where did the Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement come from? Who created it and why is it gaining traction? Let's explain.

Where Did The 'Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement' Come From?

On Wednesday morning, supporters of Kamala Harris fully realized that former President Donald Trump was going to be Commander-In-Chief once again. The gut punch was compounded when demographic statistics were released, showing that more white people voted Republican.

TikToker @libbyraelou shared the earliest known post about the movement on that day. In it, she asked, "Fellow white women, how are we signaling to each other now which side we are on?"

She suggested blue bracelets should be the symbol to subtly let other women and people of color know they voted "for them," not "against them."

Her video quickly racked up more than 3 million views in a day. Her statement inspired others to buy or make blue friendship bracelets and wear them out in public.

@libbyraelou Whats our gang sign #swifttok #kamalaharris #harriswalz #millenialsoftiktok #fyp ♬ original sound – LibbyLouWho

What Was The 'Safety Pin Movement?'

Before white people wore blue bracelets, the symbol of resistance against Donald Trump and MAGA was safety pins. It started after Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 Presidential Election and, to let others know they were liberal, people stuck the pins into their clothes.

Americans borrowed the idea from British people who originally wore safety pins to signal their solidarity with immigrants and foreigners following the United Kingdom's decision to withdraw from the European Union, also known as Brexit.

The Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement borrows heavily from this precursor with visible imagery to signify a political stance.




How's The 'Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement' Spreading Online?

The movement is largely isolated to TikTok for now, but viral videos about it are spreading fast. Mostly white women are spreading the news and trying to get their peers on board.

At the same time, many women of color have chimed in on the movement, some offering their support. For instance, TikToker @jackie.baze posted a video on the subject in which she told white women, "I appreciate you."

@jackie.baze #bluefriendshipbracelet ♬ original sound – ✨Jackie B✨💞

What's The Criticism Of The 'Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement?'

While many are championing the movement, others are skeptical if not fully critical. For some Black women, like TikToker @heyericavain, wearing a blue bracelet seems performative. "Y'all are not doing this for us. You're performing this for yourselves," she said in a video criticizing it.

Others, like TikToker @kelsey.mckim, have expressed concern by thinking back to 2016's Safety Pin Movement and using it as a cautionary tale. "To my fellow white women," she said, "the blue bracelets are a no." She urged her viewers to show who they are through actions, not symbols.

@heyericavain this is yalls only warning…. i have no cut cards or f*&ks to give.. YOU WILL GET YOUR FEELINGS HURT playing with me!!! #playwithsomethingsafer #ytwomen #ytwomenfragility #bluebracelet ♬ original sound – Erica Vain

@kelsey.mckim blue bracelets aren't the answer. let's keep the focus on those most at risk #election #whitewomen #kamala ♬ original sound – kelsey.mckim

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For the full history of Blue Friendship Bracelet Movement, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.