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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. [1] 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 show the prevalence of egocentrism on social media. [2]
The term was coined in 2023 after a video by TikTok user Vibinggranolamom received critical comments. The video was a vegan bean soup recipe made for women with anemia. [3] The video received comments expressing dislike for the use of beans and asking for a substitute for them. [4] 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." [5] Discussions around the comments led user Sarahthebookfairy to coin the term The What About Me Effect to describe the controversy. [6]
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. [7] The phenomenon has also been attributed to unhealthy amounts of time on social media and the loss of third places. [8]