Before and After Looking up Why Chainsaws Were Invented
Part of a series on Record Yourself Before and After Looking Up X. [View Related Entries]
Related Explainer: Why Were Chainsaws Invented, And Why Shouldn't You Look Up The Answer?
About
Before and After Looking up Why Chainsaws Were Invented, also known as Don't Google Why Chainsaws Were Invented, is a record yourself before and after trend on TikTok where users post videos recording their reactions before and after Googling "why chainsaws were invented." Googling the term results in articles about symphysiotomy, a surgical operation performed on laboring women in the 1700s that involves removing the pelvic bone. The trend became popularized on TikTok in November 2022.
Origin
On November 4th, 2022, TikToker[1] @sarahgirl98_ posted a selfie video with a caption asking viewers to "record yourself before and after Googling why chainsaws were invented," showing her shocked reaction to the information, garnering over 1.2 million views in four days (shown below).
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7162012074606873898
The most popular Google search results for the term lead to articles about symphysiotomy, a surgical procedure practiced on laboring women in 1780 when the baby was too large or got stuck in the pelvis. The chainsaw was used to remove parts of the bone and give the baby room to come out.[2][3]
Spread
TikTokers continued to upload videos filming their own and others' reactions to looking up why chainsaws were invented. On November 5th, 2022, TikToker[4] @savannahpyke posted a video filming her boyfriend's reaction to the term, garnering over 3 million views in three days (shown below, left). On November 6th, TikToker[5] @kay…05 posted a similar video, garnering over 3 million views in two days (shown below, right).
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7162302775899016491
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7162657886777183493
That day, TikToker[6] @emmajcastillo posted a video reacting to the results, garnering over 1.1 million views in two days (shown below). On November 7th, Dexerto[7] published an article on the trend.
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7162748188942699818
Various Examples
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7163055034576424238
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7163094559382113579
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7162613920329452843
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7163688376804134190
Search Interest
External References
[1] TikTok – sarahgirl98_
[2] Business Insider – Chainsaws were originally invented for helping with childbirth, not for cutting wood
[3] Pharmacy Times – Unfortunately, Chainsaws Were Invented for Childbirth.
[4] TikTok – savannahpyke
[6] TikTok – emmajcastillo
[7] Dexerto – What is the ‘why were chainsaws invented’ trend on TikTok
