What Is RCTA? The Controversial TikTok Trend Explained (2025)

The teenager scrolled through TikTok late at night. Her room glowed blue from the phone screen. She stumbled upon a video that promised something impossible—a way to change her race. The hashtag read #RCTA. This discovery would pull her into one of the internet’s most controversial rabbit holes.

So what is RCTA? This question has puzzled parents, educators, and anyone trying to keep up with Gen Z slang and social media language. The answer reveals a troubling trend that has sparked outrage across the internet.

What Does RCTA Mean? (The Quick Answer)

RCTA stands for “Race Change To Another.” It’s a social media trend where people claim they can change their racial identity. Most who participate are young. Many are teenagers. The trend exploded on TikTok in late 2022 and continues to generate controversy today.

The Two Different Meanings of RCTA

Before diving deeper, there’s an important note. The letters RCTA can mean two very different things:

• Social Media Meaning: Race Change To Another—the trend this article explores
• Automotive Meaning: Rear Cross Traffic Alert—a car safety feature that warns drivers of approaching vehicles while reversing

These meanings have nothing to do with each other. When someone searches “what is RCTA” today, they usually want to understand the social media controversy. That’s what this guide covers.

Why This Article Focuses on the Social Media Meaning

The social media version of RCTA has sparked intense debate. Parents find their children watching strange videos. Educators notice students discussing it. The trend raises serious questions about identity, cultural respect, and the influence of social media on young minds.

RCTA Meaning: ‘Race Change To Another’ Explained

The concept seems simple but is deeply problematic. People who practice RCTA believe they can literally change their race. They claim this happens through listening to special audio tracks. They also believe in the power of manifestation and positive thinking.

Most RCTA practitioners are young girls. Many are minors. They gather in online communities where they share their “progress.” They post before-and-after photos. They encourage each other to keep believing.

The sad reality? Experts say it doesn’t work. It can’t work. But the belief persists, fueled by social media algorithms and community reinforcement.

What Is ECTA? The Related Term

Alongside RCTA exists another term: ECTA. This stands for “Ethnicity Change To Another.” Some people use these terms interchangeably. Others argue there’s a difference between race and ethnicity.

In practice, both communities share the same methods. They use the same types of content. They face the same criticisms. The distinction matters less than the shared problematic beliefs.

Why Most RCTA Practitioners Target East Asian Identities

Here’s where the trend becomes even more troubling. The overwhelming majority of RCTA practitioners want to become Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. This isn’t random. It connects directly to the massive global popularity of K-pop, K-dramas, and anime.

A teenage girl might watch Korean dramas every night. She might idolize K-pop stars like members of BTS or Blackpink. She might develop an obsession with anime characters. Slowly, a thought takes hold: she wishes she looked like the people she admires.

That’s where RCTA enters the picture. It offers a false promise. It tells her she can become what she admires—not just appreciate it from afar.

How Does RCTA Work? The Subliminal Method

The methods behind RCTA might seem bizarre to outsiders. But to those deep in the community, they feel real and scientific. Understanding these methods helps explain why the trend spreads.

What Are Subliminals?

At the core of RCTA sits something called “subliminals.” These are audio or video tracks that contain hidden messages. The messages play at frequencies below normal hearing. Believers claim these messages bypass the conscious mind and reprogram the subconscious.

A typical RCTA subliminal video on YouTube looks peaceful. Lo-fi music plays in the background. Pretty images of Asian landscapes or K-pop stars appear on screen. But underneath the music, affirmations supposedly repeat thousands of times.

These affirmations might include phrases like “my eyes are changing shape” or “my skin is becoming lighter.” The listener hears only the music. The theory suggests the brain absorbs the hidden messages anyway.

The Manifestation Claims

Beyond subliminals, RCTA also involves manifestation practices. Practitioners keep “manifestation journals.” They write statements as if their desired changes have already happened. They visualize themselves with different features.

Some claims within the community stretch believability to breaking points:

• Physical changes: Altered eye shape, different eyelid structure, changed nose shape
• Pigmentation shifts: Lighter or darker skin tone, different hair color
• Genetic claims: Some even claim their DNA itself is changing

These claims circulate through TikTok videos and YouTube comments. They create an echo chamber where impossible beliefs seem validated.

Do Subliminals Actually Work?

Science offers a clear answer: no. Subliminal messages cannot change physical features. They cannot alter DNA. They cannot make someone a different race.

Some research does show that subliminal messages can create slight shifts in mood or temporary changes in perception. But changing bone structure, eye shape, or skin pigmentation? That’s fantasy, not science.

Professor Jamie Cohen from CUNY Queens put it bluntly: “It doesn’t ever really work, because it’s not doing anything.” Any changes people believe they see likely come from wishful thinking, different lighting in photos, or the placebo effect.

Why Is RCTA So Controversial?

The controversy around RCTA runs deep. It touches on psychological perspectives on human behavior, cultural sensitivity, and the spread of harmful ideas online.

Expert Opinions: What Psychologists Say

Mental health professionals have not stayed silent about RCTA. Their concerns go beyond whether subliminals work. They worry about what the trend reveals about identity, belonging, and cultural understanding.

“It goes against social consciousness. It involves racist ideals and practices.” — Psychologist Kevin Nadal, CUNY

Dr. Nadal’s statement cuts to the heart of the issue. Wanting to change your race suggests something is wrong with your current identity. It also suggests that race is something you can pick like a hairstyle.

Psychologist Naomi Torres-Mackie offers another perspective. She links the trend to what some call “white shame” or racial guilt. Some practitioners may feel uncomfortable with their racial identity. RCTA becomes an escape—an attempt to become something else entirely.

The Fetishization Problem

Critics point to a troubling pattern. RCTA doesn’t represent genuine cultural appreciation. It reduces Asian identity to surface-level aesthetics. Practitioners want the eyes, the skin, the hair. They want to look like their favorite K-pop idols.

But they don’t want the full experience. They don’t seek to understand Asian history, struggles, or cultural depth. They don’t face racism that Asian people encounter daily. They pick the “beautiful” parts while ignoring everything else.

This is fetishization. It turns a complex cultural identity into a costume. It treats race as something to try on when convenient.

Privilege and Lived Experiences

A white teenager wanting to become Korean overlooks something crucial. Being Asian in many Western countries comes with real challenges. Microaggressions. Discrimination. The model minority myth. Violence, as seen during the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.

RCTA practitioners can’t adopt these experiences. They can’t understand generations of cultural development. They can’t share in community bonds formed through shared struggle. They see only what they want to see—and ignore the rest.

Why You Can’t Actually Change Your Race

Race is a social construct. Scientists agree that genetic differences between racial groups are minimal. But as a social construct, race carries real weight. It shapes how society treats people. It influences opportunities, relationships, and daily interactions.

Black trans activist Tiq Milan made an important distinction. Gender and race work differently in society. People have changed gender presentation throughout history and across cultures. But race emerged specifically as a hierarchy tool. It was designed to separate and oppress.

Claiming to change race through positive thinking ignores all of this. It treats something deeply embedded in social structures as a personal choice. It simply doesn’t work that way.

The Connection to K-Pop, Anime, and Asian Culture

Understanding RCTA requires understanding why East Asian cultures have captured global attention. The answer involves decades of cultural export, social media algorithms, and genuine artistic talent.

K-pop groups like BTS broke records that once seemed impossible. Korean dramas captured audiences worldwide. Anime went from niche interest to mainstream entertainment. Those with anime watching habits now number in the hundreds of millions globally.

This cultural wave brought many good things. Cross-cultural appreciation. New art forms. Economic opportunities. But it also created conditions where some fans took things too far.

When someone watches Korean content for hours daily, they begin to admire the people on screen. Admiration can slide into obsession. Obsession can warp into wanting to become what they admire. RCTA offers that false promise.

The criticism here isn’t against enjoying Korean or Japanese culture. Cultural exchange enriches everyone. The problem comes when appreciation turns into appropriation—when someone tries to claim an identity rather than simply respecting it.

What Parents Should Know About RCTA

Many parents first learn about RCTA when they discover their child participating. The discovery can feel shocking. But responding with understanding rather than judgment works better than reacting with anger.

Children who engage with RCTA often struggle with deeper issues. They might feel they don’t belong. They might lack self-confidence. They might be searching for identity in unhealthy places. Positive parenting approaches emphasize listening first and lecturing later.

Starting a conversation requires gentleness. Ask questions. Try to understand what drew them to this content. Explore what they feel is missing in their current identity. These conversations open doors that harsh criticism would slam shut.

Teaching the difference between appreciation and appropriation matters too. It’s wonderful to love another culture. It’s concerning to try to become that culture. Kids can learn to celebrate diversity while still embracing who they are.

Final Thoughts: Understanding RCTA Without Supporting It

So what is RCTA really about? At its surface, it’s a misguided internet trend. Teenagers believe they can change their race through audio tracks and positive thinking. Experts confirm this is impossible. Communities affected by the fetishization find it offensive.

But looking deeper, RCTA reveals something about identity in the digital age. Young people feel disconnected from themselves. They admire what they see on screens. They wish they could become something else. These feelings deserve compassion even when the response to them is harmful.

The trend has largely been called out and pushed off major platforms. Much RCTA content has been removed. But the underlying issues—identity struggles, cultural obsession, the search for belonging—remain.

Staying informed about online trends helps everyone navigate this digital landscape. Understanding terms like RCTA, other viral TikTok slang like Huzz, or understanding Gen Z terminology like Rizz keeps lines of communication open.

For more on internet language and culture, explore explanations of OOMF and other TikTok acronyms. Knowing what young people are talking about makes it easier to connect with them—and to guide them away from harmful trends like RCTA.