"Reality shifting", also known as RS or shifting, is a cognitive activity in which practitioners fantasize themselves into alternate realities through meditation and focus. The universes targeted are often the pre-existing worlds of popular fiction, such as the Harry Potter universe or Marvel Cinematic Universe.[1]
From a scientific standpoint, it is not possible to shift one's consciousness to alternate realities, and reality shifting is therefore generally viewed as a personal experience rather than an objective manipulation of reality.[2] While shifting has been regarded as harmless,[by whom?] there is concern among experts about its impacts on people with pre-existing mental health conditions.
Reality shifting became a trend on social media in mid-2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was likely sparked by the sudden increase in social isolation and resulting stress.[3][4]
The practice is inspired by the New Thought movement, a new religious movement; one of its principles is that the mind can manipulate the physical world almost without limit.[5]: 216
Overview
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Shifting generally includes aspects such as concentration and meditation, and is performed with the explicit goal of shifting one's consciousness to a specific alternate universe. This distinguishes it from similar phenomena such as lucid dreaming, tulpamancy, and self-hypnosis.[3] The desired reality may be invented by the individual, but is commonly the universe of a popular work or series. Prominent examples include the Harry Potter universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Shadowhunters world, the universe of Star Wars, and the worlds of various anime and manga such as My Hero Academia.[1][3][2]
Various induction techniques are employed to assist in reality shifting. For example, the "Alice in Wonderland" method involves visualizing oneself to be falling down a rabbit hole into the desired universe. Similarly, the "elevator" method requires one to imagine themselves riding an elevator up a series of floors, intensifying their "energy levels" until the top floor is reached and the elevator opens into the target reality.[2] The "raven" method involves lying on one's back and counting to one hundred while focusing on what one plans to do in their new reality.[4]
Shifters have formed various virtual communities on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok. Members discuss their shifts to alternate universes and share tips and tutorials on how to enhance their experience, such as through "scripting" the shift to better control the storyline, or listening to "subliminal" music.[1][6]
Most practitioners are teenagers and young adults.[3]
Health concerns
editReality shifting has not been researched enough to directly connect it to mental health disorders.[3] Little empirical research has been conducted on the subject; a 2026 study on reality shifting communities noted that they were "gatekept, in fear of 'pathologizing' the phenomenon."[7] According to Joshua Klapow, a clinical psychologist, "The practice of reality shifting is not inherently unhealthy. However, if a person is using it increasingly more and more to escape their present life, concern arises."[4] Especially within the online community, reality shifting can be reified as an actual transition to another universe.[3] Business Insider reported on the experience of several shifters, who claimed that shifting became an obsession for them and interfered with their daily life.[4]
"Respawning" is a term for a radical escapist technique, encouraged by a fringe community within the larger shifting community. The user attempts to permanently move one's consciousness to the desired reality, either by leaving behind a "clone" or "stand in" to continue to operate their body,[3] or by inducing a physical death. On YouTube, several videos published were designed to incite a heart attack or similar "natural death" in viewers so they might respawn. Though some users commented that they felt symptoms, it is not scientifically plausible that these videos induce medical emergencies.[4]
Reality shifting, alongside The Backrooms horror media and other social media and pop culture influences, was linked to a sudden onset of tics in a 15-year-old girl.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 Tarnovetska, Yuliya (2 November 2025). "Reality Shifting in 2020: A Form of Self-Hypnosis?". The Columbia Science Review. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 Travers, Mark (20 March 2024). "A Psychologist Explains the Phenomenon of 'Reality Shifting'". Forbes. Forbes Media. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Somer, Eli; Cardeña, Etzel; Catelan, Ramiro Figueiredo; Soffer-Dudek, Nirit (30 October 2021). "Reality shifting: psychological features of an emergent online daydreaming culture". National Institutes of Health. Springer Nature. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Colombo, Charlotte (26 January 2022). "ShiftTok: 'Reality shifting' where users say they're transported to another life has exploded on TikTok, but former shifters say it harmed their mental health". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 1 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ↑ Rijn, Bastiaan van; Rijn, Sarah van (2024). "Understanding Reality Shifting as a New Online-based Spiritual Practice". Correspondences. 12 (2). ISSN 2053-7158.
- ↑ Cavender, Elena (27 July 2021). "TikTok's reality shifting trend mixes dream-like consciousness with fandoms". Mashable. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ↑ Sunil, Shweta; Sharma, Manoj Kumar; Anand, Nitin (13 February 2026). "Reality Shifting among Social Media Users: An Investigation of Psychological Phenomenology". Sage Journals. Archived from the original on 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ↑ Necpál, Ján; Šoltýsová, Marcela (11 April 2023). "Functional movement disorders triggered by reality shifting and the Backrooms—another social media traps". Retrieved 15 January 2026.