Have you seen anyone with (or references to) white nails on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube? White nails are believed by some users to be part of a secret relationship code, while others don't buy into the hype. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of white-painted nails on social media.
Meaning
The common appearance of white nails on social media websites like TikTok and Instagram is said to refer to someone's relationship status.
White nails are believed by some users to be a sign that the user is single, not in a relationship or not in an exclusive (“closed”) relationship with someone.
The common use of white nails is an unspoken rule for some social media users, although this is not universal for all TikTok users. A large amount of people only wear white nails by coincidence, while a larger amount of social media users than this might not yet know what the term means at all.
Sometimes it is also part of this belief that other colors might signify the opposite. The most common variation of this belief is that blue colored nails mean that someone is currently in a relationship.
White nails does not exclusively refer to someone's relationship status, but could just mean that someone has chosen to paint their nails white. Still, the common color of nail polish has become a sign of being single for some social media users.
Example Usage
“I don't know if you spotted Mrs. Robinson wearing white nails. She might have gotten divorced from her husband without telling anyone, and you might want to use this weekend to ask her out.”
“I had to spend three hours explaining to my grandmother why it's not a great idea to wear white nail polish out to the party.”
“White nails are becoming quite the thing on TikTok, but does it actually mean something if you go out wearing white nails?”
“Wear your nails blue when you go out tonight, you don't want all the guys from that side of TikTok asking you out on dates.”
Origin
The origin of the phenomenon that some users believe white nails signify that a user is single is difficult to trace, and the exact beginnings of this rumor are hard to find.
Mentions of the fact that white nails could mean that someone is single started to appear on social media platforms during the year 2021, though its first use might have happened in the year or two before this date.
White nails first became popular on TikTok, with the concept spreading fast between users in 2021 and after this.
While not all users are familiar with the supposed code, users who apply it believe that white nails mean single social media users.
Similar codes have been commonly claimed since at least the eighties, where it was said that the color of wrist-jewelry could indicate sexual preference or relationship status depending on the version of the story.
Codes like these are only appropriate and usable for the group of social media users who already know what they mean.
Phrases Similar to White Nails
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Phrases Opposite to White Nails
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What is the Correct Saying?
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Ways People May Say White Nails Incorrectly
White nails can be used in the wrong way (or interpreted the wrong way) by anyone on social media who isn't part of the group who accepts the meaning.
Someone who does not know the supposed meaning of white nails on social media can't apply the signal in any way, which can lead to mass confusion.
Someone might also just be wearing white nails, and it has nothing to do with their relationship status. Someone else might wear white nails while accepting the signal, which other social media users might well misinterpret.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase White Nails
The acceptable use of white nails on social media depends on who defines it.
One crowd accepts white nails to signal someone's relationship status (as single), while another crowd does not accept or believe this meaning for the signal.