Expecting Dad Applauded for His "Honest” Conversation on Pregnancy in Viral TikTok

Mar. 6 2022, Published 8:52 a.m. ET

People are putting more and more of their personal lives on social media and it's kind of difficult to believe whether or not they're doing so from a place of authenticity. That's because many Influencers have specific brands that they're trying to shill, which constantly brings up conversations about "Instagram vs Reality."

That's not to say adopting a specific persona for a fulfilling reason can't be authentic, however, as it all depends on the reason that one is adopting that persona. If you're naturally an introverted individual who has a danger of public speaking and you want to become a stand-up comedian, for example, working on your personality from that introverted place to become someone who is unafraid to talk in front of audiences can be healthy.

But with social media, there's always the question of "clout." It's no secret that there are tons of Influencers out there who make decent livings garnering revenue off of TikTok and YouTube posts, not to mention the brand deals they can secure after getting large followings on other platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook too.

This could be why there's a debate circulating this now-viral TikTok from couple Matt and Abby.

The TikTokers have a massive following of 3.2 million users and often make posts about their relationship, via typical TikTok tropes: text overlay videos with enthusiastic gesticulations and synchronized dance routines. They also make posts about tons of "couple" things that they do: shopping together, doing dishes, assembling IKEA furniture, and discussing their upcoming pregnancy.

A lot of their most recent content has been centered around the fact that they're going to become parents for the first time, and one clip from Matt, in particular, is garnering a ton of reactions. In the video, it looks like the TikToker has set up his phone to record a candid discussion between the two of them.

In it, they talk about the fact that they don't necessarily feel "able" to be a mom and dad. Abby in particular shared her fears with pregnancy and labor itself, and all of the "variables" associated with it. She even expressed that she felt somewhat "egocentric" thinking this way, which is something that many commenters said was not the case.

Some users offered up words of comfort to the couple: "Childbirth is tricky but my mother all the time says that a lot of moms forget how hard it was once they get to carry their valuable new baby☺️+ U got this!"

Many others said that the talk they had is "so commonplace" and that it's important for more couples to discuss their fears surrounding parenthood so candidly.

But there were some who found the process of recording and uploading their discussion a bit odd, especially the transition from having a frank talk about their readiness for parenthood to "OK let's put this on TikTok."

However, since Matt and Abby incessantly publish about their lives on social media, it will rather well be that this is par the course for their dynamic. What do you think? Should specific facets of 1's non-public existence stay offline? Or are Matt and Abby helping to foster healthier conversations about parenthood between couples?

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