UPDATE: A Seattle family’s unique household rule has taken TikTok by storm, sparking widespread conversation online. 22-year-old Sanjita Rishikesan shared a humorous post that highlights her parents’ insistence that their children respond to family group texts—specifically, the reels they send—no matter how busy they are.
In her viral TikTok, which has accumulated over 730,000 views, Sanjita revealed a message from her mother, Karpagam Lakshminarasimhan, emphasizing the importance of watching and responding to these videos, often with just an emoji. The text read, “You have to watch it at the earliest available free time.” Sanjita’s brother, Srikar Rishikesan, 17, is also expected to comply with this parental request.
The post captures a growing cultural phenomenon where parents increasingly engage with technology, often outpacing their children. Sanjita humorously quipped, “I think they’re more chronically online than me,” underlining the generational shift in digital engagement.
This family dynamic is not just about watching funny dog reels or AI-generated videos. Parents Rishi Rangarajan, 54, and Karpagam, 50, use this method as a way to foster connection, sharing content that they find meaningful or entertaining with their children, who were raised with considerable freedom to express themselves. “I was encouraged to fully express myself and do and wear whatever I wanted,” Sanjita explained.
The community response on TikTok has been overwhelmingly positive. Users have echoed sentiments about the importance of maintaining familial connections through shared interests, with comments like, “It’s a way to build relationships and connect with others.” Many viewers offered support for Sanjita and Srikar to comply with their parents’ wishes, noting that such interactions can strengthen family bonds.
As the trend continues to gain traction, it raises questions about the ways families communicate in the digital age. The lighthearted nature of the video and the relatable content have resonated widely, prompting discussions about the balance between digital engagement and personal time.
What’s Next: As this story develops, viewers are encouraged to consider their own family dynamics regarding technology. With parents increasingly engaging with social media, it will be interesting to see how these interactions evolve and whether more families adopt similar rules.
Stay tuned for more updates on this quirky yet relatable story that reflects the shifting landscape of family communication in our tech-savvy world.
