ASMR: what the terms ‘tapping’ and ‘scratching’ mean

ASMR is not for all ears. Only those who are able to feel the tingling that causes them to listen to relaxing sounds enjoy these types of videos that have grown especially on YouTube. This platform has become the main website both for artists to share their audiovisual creations and for users to enjoy a wide variety of content.

To sleep, relax, disconnect, relieve stress, reduce anxiety or feel that tingling that runs through the head, neck and back are the reasons why this content does not stop adding fans. Social networks have also been filled with ASMR videos. On Instagram there are thousands that hypnotize you in less than a minute, while on TikTok they are broadcast live to satisfy the ears of their viewers. Although the largest number of ASMR followers is concentrated on YouTube, since its format allows for better results and longer videos with higher audiovisual quality.

It is good to know the ASMR terms used by the creators of this type of content to improve your searches. Surely during your experience you have come across videos with various terms in English: what the words ‘scratching’ and ‘tapping’ mean. The small taps that the artists give to the different objects to create the triggers that relax you is what is known as ‘tapping’. This word in English translates as knocking. Through the fingers and nails they cause this pleasant sound. The objects with which they create that tingling in the listeners are varied: glasses, a cosmetic bottle, a comb, a book, an eyeshadow palette, a cup, a mobile.

On the other hand, ‘scratching’ comes from the verb scratch, which means to scratch. In this case, the artists, turned into influencers, rub their nails against the objects. This sound is created mostly by scratching the microphone, but also by clothing or the scalp. The fan is very wide to make your eyes fall asleep.