Buzz
Find out how and why "septum arms" became a viral sensation on the internet.
If the term “septum arms” sounds like complete gibberish, that’s because, well, it kind of is! In July 2024, TikTok’s blue text feature coined the phrase, and it spread like wildfire across the app. Initially, it was seen as an insult, primarily targeting women, calling out those with a larger upper arm compared to their forearm. Although the term started with no meaning, it has since been reclaimed by the body positivity movement, where people have embraced it. Keep reading to learn more about “septum arms,” the AI-generated blue text phenomenon, and how TikTok’s language continues to evolve.
What exactly are septum arms?
"Septum arms" refers to a derogatory term used to describe a woman who’s cute, “except her arms” (implying her arms are unattractive or large). The term emerged after a comment containing the word “septum” gained thousands of likes on an anti-body shaming video.
Steps
What does the term 'septum arms' mean?
'Septum arms' is a term used to describe a woman who is attractive, 'except for her arms.' The phrase suggests that the woman’s arms are considered fat or unattractive. ‘Septum arms’ was coined by TikTok’s AI ‘blue text’ feature, which highlights related phrases in videos like this one by @orlandospeciality, which was originally meant to call out people who criticize women's bodies. TikTok’s fast-changing lingo led some to think it was an insult aimed at women with larger arms.
- The blue text algorithm on TikTok identifies related words and phrases from video descriptions and comments, making them clickable links that appear at the top of videos.
'Septum arms' is used in a way similar to the term 'butter face.' A 'butter face' describes someone with a great body but an unattractive face. In the case of ‘septum arms,’ the joke is that someone is attractive, ‘except for their arms.’
- “Did you go on a date with that girl last night?”
“Yeah, but she was a total butter face. No wonder her profile didn’t have any decent selfies.” - Some believe ‘septum arms’ refers to arms that are larger above the elbow, forming a triangular shape at the tricep, or simply arms that are considered unattractive.
- ‘Vuvuzela arms’ is another TikTok-created term, coined by @superkeara, meant to highlight the micro-insecurities people pick up online. Like ‘septum arms,’ it was often misinterpreted as an insult.
- This term describes arms that are thinner at the wrist and larger up the forearm, which is actually the common shape of most people's arms.
Where did the term 'septum arms' originate?
The term 'septum arms' was born from an anti-body-shaming video. In the original video (which has since been taken down), TikTok user @orlandospeciality plays two characters: one says, “Omg ew, bro look at her arms,” while the other reacts in disgust, shaking his head ‘No.’ The caption reads, “This world is full of sick people.”
- The video, which has been remade and parodied several times, features the song 'Falling Down (Bonus Track)' by Lil Peep.
TikTok's AI spotlighted 'septum' and 'arms' after a viral comment. TikTok user @daryldixonisaw posted, 'What if it’s someone with a septum?'—a comment that quickly racked up over 27,000 likes. TikTok’s algorithm picks up terms that users might be interested in, leading to 'septum arms' becoming highlighted for this video.
- @orlandospeciality, who has openly criticized septum piercings, made other videos featuring 'Septum' in the title, which likely led the algorithm to associate 'septum' with a term users would engage with.
Parody videos flooded TikTok soon after the original post. On July 17, 2024, TikToker @kirkiimad posted a parody video with the text ‘Omg eww bro look at her septum arms🤢.’ On the same day, user @nuumuhuupi shared a video asking about the meaning of the term, which cemented the meme and kicked off the trend of trying to decode the phrase.
- Unlike the original, the parodies directly used the phrase 'septum arms.'
The phrase was quickly adopted by both body shaming and body positivity sides of TikTok. As TikTok became notorious for fostering body shaming and encouraging niche insecurities, many assumed 'septum arms' was an insult. Given the usual trend of negative attention toward women’s bodies, it wasn’t long before people interpreted 'septum arms' as just another body-shaming trend.
- While TikTok has faced backlash for promoting negative body image, it has also sparked a body positivity movement, which paradoxically often engages with the very trends it aims to challenge.
Septum Arms and Body Positivity
Body positivity TikTokers took ownership of the term shortly after its creation. Within the body positivity community, there’s been a movement to 'reclaim' terms like ‘fat’ so that people can describe their bodies without the stigma of these words being used as insults. In the case of ‘septum arms,’ however, the term was more ‘claimed’ than truly ‘reclaimed.’
- TikTokers like @steyrmiu have criticized this approach, arguing that terms such as 'septum arms,' 'hip dips,' and 'legging legs' were coined and popularized by the very women who are often the target of these labels.
Videos celebrating 'septum arms' are becoming more popular. TikTok user @themeganrhiann is among those leading the charge, sharing videos that embrace the beauty of her arms, highlighting how her triceps naturally fold onto her torso. She proudly celebrates the lumps, bumps, fat, and flab that make up her body—showing the world that these are all natural, wonderful parts of being human.
