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To randonaut or not, that is the question.
By Emily Francos — Last updated on Aug 10, 2022
TikTok is known for its trending challenges and viral techniques and hacks. And while most of these challenges and trends are lighthearted, fun and interesting, sometimes they can be downright dangerous.
One trend that took off on TikTok is known as randonaughting. Randonauting has led some adventurous souls to find some really interesting — and sometimes downright dreadful — surprises.
What is randonauting?
As explained on a Reddit subreddit dedicated to the practice, randonauting is when you use a true random generator called the Randonautica app to pick random coordinates, to which you then go to that place and explore.
Junkee explains that the app takes you to "random places near you based on a 'quantum random number generator and mother nature.'"
Lots of people have used this app as a way to get out of their normal stomping grounds, and to break free from the monotony of everyday life. This app is designed to take you to places way off the beaten path where not a lot of people go regularly.
However, the journey is supposedly just as spiritual as is it technical. Before providing the user with coordinates, the app asks the user to set their intention, which reportedly helps guide your trip.
There are two randonauting filters called attractors and repellants. A Reddit user describes attractors as "a point within a cluster of generated coordinates," and repellents as "an area conspicuously devoid of generated coordinates."
There are also voids, which are sparse quantum-points and anomalies, which are reported pattern areas influenced by a person thoughts.
All these things are taken into account when the app generates coordinates.
People have shared their randonauting videos on TikTok.
Lots of people have posted pictures about their experiences randonauting.
The caption reads "I live in pretty boring neighborhood in Japan so decided to try this app. Went with the intention of something interesting. Found a garden of giant trees looking like this."
Another person posted their picture with the caption, "My intention was 'confidence.' This was painted on a letterbox."
Someone else posted their picture to Reddit with the caption, "I had to put my dog down a week ago today. My intention was to know she was okay. Randonautica sent me here."
On Reddit, another user posted, "When I went randonauting I had my intention set on love and I found this key! What does it mean?"
But TikTokers have also been led to quite creepy sites using the app.
Some of these pictures got a bit creepy, though. Another Reddit user posted, "My intention was something happy yet creepy. Balloon with the word happy deflated in the middle of nowhere."
Another posted, "Intent was bright yellow, found at 1am under a street lamp."
This makes randonauting a big problem. Not to mention that randonauting has led to the discovery of dead bodies.
In addition to pleasant and pretty cool experiences while randonauting, users on TikTok and Reddit alike also posted pictures and videos showing unexplained experiences they have had.
In one instance, in June 2020 a TikTok video went viral after teens were using the Randonautica app in Seattle, and found a dead body in a suitcase at the coordinates the app gave them.
In the now-deleted video, the group of teens happened upon a black suitcase that washed up on the beach. They looked at the bag, opened it and saw plastic stuffed inside the bag, noting the overwhelming smell. They then called the police.
Later on, the Seattle police department confirmed that human remains had been found.
"Several bags containing humans remains... located near the water," the Seattle Police explained. They found the remains after "receiving a call of a suspicious bag on the beach."
In fact, randonauting has led to other death-related experiences.
Another randonauting user, Mykena, set her intent to death and she was sent to the coordinates of a dying man who had his wife laying on him in a gutter. The man was allegedly shot. In the now-deleted video, she was visibly upset by what she found.
As people continue to use the Randonautica app, there's no telling what they may find, whether it's a sight that aligns with their intent, or something more sinister.
Just remember to always be safe when you visit any place, and go in a group for safety if you use the app. You don't know what you may be walking into.
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Emily Francos is a writer and editor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature. Her work focuses primarily on astrology, lifestyle and relationships. To read more of her work, follow her on Facebook.