Bean soup theory means the tendency for people to respond to social media content that clearly isn’t meant for them by making it about their own opinions, complaints, or experiences instead — essentially assuming every post online is speaking directly to them.
If you’ve ever scrolled TikTok or Instagram and seen someone complain in the comments of a video that obviously wasn’t made for them — like someone criticizing a recipe for containing an ingredient they personally dislike, on a video clearly aimed at a totally different audience — you’ve witnessed bean soup theory in action. It’s become one of the most-referenced internet behavior terms of 2026, and it’s now even recognized by Merriam-Webster as official slang.
What Is Bean Soup Theory?
At its core, bean soup theory describes a specific kind of self-centered online commenting: someone sees a piece of content that isn’t targeted at them, and instead of scrolling past, they respond as if it were personally directed at them usually to complain, correct, or redirect the conversation toward their own situation.
It’s most commonly used to describe:
- Commenting a complaint on a niche video that wasn’t made for your circumstances
- Making a general post “about you” when it clearly wasn’t
- Derailing a specific conversation by inserting unrelated personal opinions
- Reacting defensively to content that was never aimed at your demographic
Why Bean Soup Theory Matters
Bean soup theory matters because it names a pattern that a lot of people had noticed online for years but never had a clean way to describe. Naming a behavior makes it easier to recognize — both in others and in ourselves.
Key reasons the term has caught on:
- It gives people quick, shareable language for a very specific kind of internet annoyance
- It sparked real psychological discussion outlets like CNN connected it to broader ideas about egocentric processing and empathy online
- It’s a useful lens for understanding why online arguments so often go off-topic
- It applies well beyond TikTok :to comment sections, group chats, and even workplace messaging
Where the Term Came From
The origin is surprisingly specific and traceable, which is part of why it went viral.
- 2023: A TikTok creator (username @vibingranolamom) posted a bean soup recipe aimed at people dealing with anemia, using ingredients high in iron
- The video’s caption specifically addressed a niche audience people managing low iron levels
- Despite the clear targeting, the comment section filled up with people who don’t like beans, or don’t have anemia, requesting the recipe be changed for their own preferences
- The absurdity of the mismatch between the video’s clear audience and the self-centered comments made it go viral, and the phrase “bean soup theory” was born as shorthand for this exact mismatch
- By mid-2026, Merriam-Webster’s slang dictionary had officially documented the term, and mainstream outlets like CNN were covering it as a broader commentary on social media behavior
How Popular Is This Term Right Now?
Bean soup theory has moved well past its original TikTok origin. It’s now used across Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and BlueSky as a quick way to call out egocentric replies, and it’s been picked up by mental health creators and mainstream news outlets discussing empathy and self-centeredness in the algorithm age. Its addition to Merriam-Webster’s slang dictionary in 2026 is a strong signal that it’s no longer just niche TikTok jargon it’s become part of everyday internet vocabulary.
Types of Bean Soup Theory Behavior
Not all bean soup theory moments look the same. Here are the most common patterns people point to:
1. The Preference Complaint
Commenting dislike about an ingredient, style, or choice in content clearly made for a different audience.
Example: Complaining about beans in a recipe made specifically for people managing anemia.
2. The Identity Mismatch
Responding to advice or content meant for a specific group as though it applies to everyone.
Example: Arguing with parenting advice while not being a parent.
3. The Redirect
Turning someone else’s post or story into an opportunity to talk about your own unrelated situation.
Example: Replying to someone’s career update with an unrelated personal complaint.
4. The Correction Reflex
Jumping in to “well actually” a niche or specialized post without understanding its context or intended audience.
Types at a Glance
| Type | What It Looks Like | Core Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| Preference Complaint | Criticizing content for not matching personal taste | Self-interest over context |
| Identity Mismatch | Applying advice meant for one group to everyone | Lack of audience awareness |
| The Redirect | Making someone else’s post about yourself | Egocentric processing |
| Correction Reflex | Correcting niche content without understanding its purpose | Overconfidence |
Bean Soup Theory vs. Whataboutism vs. Main Character Syndrome
These three terms get used in similar contexts, but they’re not identical.
- Bean Soup Theory: Responding to content as if it were made for you, when it clearly wasn’t
- Whataboutism: Deflecting a specific criticism or topic by pointing to an unrelated issue (“but what about…”)
- Main Character Syndrome: A broader pattern of seeing yourself as the center of every situation, not limited to commenting on posts
Bean soup theory is often described as a specific, internet-native flavor of both whataboutism and main character energy — it’s what happens when that mindset shows up specifically in the comments section.
Examples in Context
Casual/Social Media:
“Bro really commented his own opinion under a post that had nothing to do with him — classic bean soup theory.”
Professional/Analytical:
“Bean soup theory illustrates how algorithm-driven feeds can blur the line between content intended for a niche audience and the assumption that all content is universally relevant.”
Critical/Skeptical:
“It’s just a trendy new name for something people have always done online — make everything about themselves.”
Is “Bean Soup Theory” Ever Used Literally?
No — despite the name, it has nothing to do with actual soup or cooking. The name comes specifically from the viral bean soup recipe video that sparked the term, but the phrase itself is used purely to describe the behavior pattern, not food.
Other Ways People Refer to This Behavior
- What-about-me-ism
- Main character energy (in the negative sense)
- Main character syndrome
- Self-centered commenting
- Missing the audience
Tips for Avoiding “Bean Soup Theory” Behavior
- Before commenting, check who the post seems to actually be for
- Ask whether your comment adds to the conversation or redirects it to yourself
- If content clearly isn’t relevant to you, it’s okay to just scroll past
- Practice noticing the impulse to make things personal before typing a reply
Common Mistakes People Make With the Term
- Using it to shut down any disagreement, even valid criticism
- Applying it to posts that were actually meant for a general audience
- Assuming it’s always intentional rather than an unconscious habit
- Treating it as a moral failing rather than a common, fixable pattern
FAQs
1. What does bean soup theory mean in simple terms?
It means responding to online content as if it were made specifically for you, even when it clearly wasn’t — usually to complain or redirect attention to yourself.
2. Where did bean soup theory come from?
It originated from a 2023 TikTok video about a bean soup recipe for people with anemia, where commenters who didn’t fit that audience complained about the recipe anyway.
3. Is bean soup theory a real psychological theory?
Not formally — it’s internet slang, not an academic concept, though psychologists have connected it to real ideas like egocentric processing.
4. Is bean soup theory the same as whataboutism?
They’re related but not identical. Whataboutism deflects criticism with an unrelated topic; bean soup theory is about assuming content is meant for you when it isn’t.
5. Is “bean soup theory” an official word now?
Merriam-Webster added it to their slang dictionary in 2026, which reflects widespread use, though it’s still considered informal internet slang rather than standard English so you can also explore about it on Merriam-Webster.
Conclusion
Bean soup theory captures something a lot of us have felt scrolling online but never had the words for: that specific frustration of watching someone make a post about themselves when it clearly wasn’t meant for them. What started as a random comment section on a bean soup recipe has turned into shorthand for a much bigger conversation about empathy, audience awareness, and self-centeredness in the algorithm era.
Whether you’ve called it out in others or caught yourself doing it, understanding bean soup theory is a small but useful step toward being a little more thoughtful online.
Michael Johnson is a seasoned Content Expert and digital communication specialist with a proven track record in content creation, strategy, and audience engagement. His work goes beyond writing he crafts meaningful, results driven content that helps businesses achieve growth, brand visibility, and audience trust.
