National parks, country music gay and thirst traps have much in common, at least on the Internet.
Hundreds of Tiktok publications that combine sexual explicit audio, comic memes and impressive views of nature have flooded food on social networks. The viral trend coincides with the unprecedented fund cuts of President Donald Trump aimed at federal parks, forests, monuments, coasts and trails.
The #ParkTok and #Mountantok message has a G classification: conserve and protect public lands. Obscene content is simply a wrap to attract followers and receive that message in front of as many people as possible.
At first glance, Tiktok’s fan explains that Yellowstone and Joshua Tree, among other national parks, forests and recreation sites, seem to compete in a deranged fight. Some Commcentrs speculate that federal feasters or marketing strategists have become dishonest to obtain external financial support.
But unofficial accounts, which are growing in number daily, are administered by creators of independent content without affiliation to the government. According to the Office of Public Affairs of the National Parks Service, the NPS does not have an official presence in Tiktok, since there are no terms of service between federal agencies and the platform.
“Viral trends focused on national parks can certainly increase the visibility of the park and generate greater interest and awareness,” said the national parks service to CNET in an email. “We appreciate the enthusiasm for the parks of our nation and the creative ways in which people share their online experiences.”
And millions of followers on social networks say they are here for it. Promotion the vast landscape of the country and its
Nature is sexy; Budget cuts are not
Far beyond the spicy adult content, there is a unifying purpose to publish videos of waterfall cascades, colossal trees, seductive deserts and a lovely wildlife. Researchers have indicated that national parks are key to conserve biodiversity and support people’s well -being. And it seems that everyone, not only the Nature Nerds, can support the public lands of the thesis: US National Parks. Uu. They saw a record number of recreation visits last year, almost 332 million.
“If you love all these things, you stick to that beauty,” Kim Tanner said, the creator of the Joshua tree fans account. “And then you realize that you don’t want that damaged beauty.”
The Trump 2026 administrations budget plan includes cutting more than $ 1 billion of the National Parks Service. It also threatens to eliminate whopping $ 33 billion of national recreation management programs and conservation and preservation subsidies. Subsidies are critical to clarify 433 individual public land areas that cover more than 85 million acres, which are administered by NP.
The National Parks Conservation Association says that the White House Budget reductions are the largest proposed cuts at the service of national parks in its 109 years of history and could “tithe at least 350 national parks sites.” Many have said that Trump is laying the foundations for selling public lands and converting recreational areas ready of management at the state level.
According to Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of governmental affairs of the National Parks Conservation Association, the NPS has already lost almost 2,500 employees, or almost 13% of its staff, in what she calls a “cerebral trust” or easts “or in environments.
“What is happening at this time, when trying to dismantle the national parks service inside, is more horrible than anything we have seen before,” Brengel told me.
Putting wild for nature
Tiktok is controversial, and so is sex. That is precisely the reason why trends like these have political capital, capable of attracting fans and enemies, and bringing everyone else to the conversation.
“Polyry on social networks reflects our political policy of real life,” said the reporter of the social networks of CNET Katelyn Chedraoui.
The creators #ParkTok and #Mountantok, some of whom are former park’s employees, are all nature lovers who cover the political spectrum. Many of the accounts openly denounce the threats of the administration against the parks and the spectators directly to manifestations or collectors of funds, but the trend is not openly partisan or driven by the activists.
“Most of their publications work at a subconscious level, which leads viewers to think about national parks and their own experiences with them,” said Chedraoui. “It’s simple but effective.”
In fact, Tiktok’s commitment around public lands originated before the budget cuts the parks. The first three fans accounts, Mount Hood, Mount Rainier and Yellowstone, appeared just after the elections last November. Administered by three friends who are eager to enthusiasts of the outdoors, the accounts published publications from the beginning that they were a mixture of comic relief and deserted amazement.
There was no more thirst trap content then. “They were only waterfalls, views and sunset,” said Jaime Wash, the creator of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens fans. Then, two of the creators began to troll, people already loved.
It was false beef, but the disc template became a winning strategy. For January, the trend begins to accelerate, with more fans accounts that bind to the fray. Around the last months, the popularity of the publications has seen flows and flows, until recently, when all the #Montantok and #ParkTok exploded for their risky content.
Private parts in public lands became a magical formula, a kind of viral virility, which creators knew how to play. “Users of social networks are very accustomed to brands that act deranged in Tiktok,” Chedraoui said.
A bridge on water with problems
Some critics have criticized parody accounts, battery creators to try to monetize a legitimate cause or affirm that the content of sexual positions damages the reputation of the parks.
But the conformity with the creators, who collaborate regularly in a group chat, earn money was not, and will never be their intention. Wash told me that if at any time they charge a payment for the content, they plan to donate the funds to the parks.
After winning a large number of followers, Wash said, he felt it was responsibility to invade people. In April, Mount Hood’s account took the followers at the hands of Portland outside the protest.
“We are building a community to demonstrate that things are not helpless, that change can happen and we are there for each other,” said Wash. And in addition to increasing the alarm, the posts add relief and entertainment comic to a daily cycle of doomscolers and anxiety.
Tanner told me that #ParkTok and #mountaintk can help open people’s eyes, showing how fragile nature is really. By highlighting animals in danger of extinction and damage to things such as logging, drilling and mining, they can help millions of followers understand what is really at stake.
The surprising power of social networks
Social networks act as a cultural barometer, revealing a public feeling in real time and highlighting the problems that resonate. Platforms like Tiktok also give basic movements a megaphone, allowing everyday people to avoid traditional media filters and speak directly with broad audiences.
The NPCA encourages people to enroll in action alerts on its website to save the parks.
“We have seen that digital action leads to tangible action,” said Sheila Nguyen, associate director of communications and participation of the National Parks Conservation Association. “The more people see content on social networks, the greatest the group of people who can speak and more collective impact we can have,” Nguyen told CNET in an email.
In fact, it has been shown that advertising on social networks increases visits to the National Park. A 2024 research study found that positive publications on social networks that include photos or videos boost the greatest increases in visits.
“The more people we can enter these parks, the better. In that way, you can experience it firsthand, see it, fall in love with it and then want to protect it,” Tanner said.
The National Parks Conservation Association urges people to register on alerts on their defense page so that they can raise concerns with the representatives of Congress. “We believe that Congress is the best option at this time for the administration to go back to these bad proposals,” said Brengel de la NPCA. “Congress must be pushed to stop some of these terrible actions.”
Many Tiktok creators with whom I spoke also said they are legal ways to hold elected officials.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that the places that I love them will never be the same again,” said Wash, “and I want to do anything to stop that.”
