Bean soup theory

A photo of bean soup served with rice Bean soup theory, also known as bean soup effect or what-about-me effect, describes the phenomenon where someone outside of a target audience attempts to seek accommodations for their personal tastes or situation, a form of the spotlight effect. The term originates from a controversy around comments on a bean soup recipe video asking for a version of the recipe without beans. It has been used to describe the prevalence of egocentrism on social media.

Origin

The term was coined in 2023 after a video by TikTok user @vibinggranolamom received critical comments. The video was for a vegan bean soup recipe made for women with anemia. The video received comments expressing dislike for the use of beans and asking for a substitute for them. User @vibinggranolamom posted a follow-up to the video, stating that she "doesn’t really have a sub for the beans" and that "there’s a lot of high-iron foods out there though." Discussions around the comments led user @sarahthebookfairy to coin the term The What About Me Effect to describe the controversy.

Cause

A common cause given for the theory is that algorithms cater to the user's interests to the point that it makes them self-centered. The phenomenon has also been attributed to unhealthy amounts of time on social media and the loss of third places.

See also

  • Whataboutism
  • Spotlight effect