Brazil has been swept up in a sudden craze for WhatsApp groups where the only form of communication allowed is whistling. These groups have a simple but strict rule: no typing or speaking, on pain of immediate removal. Only voice notes featuring whistles are permitted, whether it be an imitation of a bird or a melody like the theme from The Pink Panther or the opening of Scorpions’ Wind of Change.
A Rapidly Growing Phenomenon
The trend has brought together people of all ages and professions, including members of Congress. Some groups receive up to 600 voice notes per day, with the most popular performances amassing hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok. Examples include whistled renditions of Evanescence’s Bring Me to Life and Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc. New groups are emerging daily in Brazil, the world’s second-largest WhatsApp market. Some reach the 1,024-member limit in less than 24 hours, prompting administrators to create new groups and repeat the cycle.
Judging Whistles with Emojis and Stickers
The quality of whistles varies, and judgment is delivered through emojis and stickers—the only short-text format allowed. A good whistle earns a sticker echoing the “absolute cinema” meme, but with Martin Scorsese’s face replaced by a toucan or parakeet and the phrase “absolute assobio,” the Portuguese word for whistling. A poor performance often draws the criticism that there is more wind than melody. Some members put in considerable effort, playing a karaoke version of a song in the background and whistling the vocal part, while others simply chirp a few notes while washing dishes.
How It Started
Enzo Dias, an 18-year-old business administration student, created one of the first groups on April 13. “I saw a video online about some groups that already existed and we decided to create one with a few friends just for fun,” he said. “It was meant to be just for us; one friend invited another and before we knew it there were more than 500 people. The next day, we reached maximum capacity and had to create another.” The exact origin of the trend is unclear, but the earliest TikTok posts date back to mid-April. Google Trends data shows that searches for “whistling” in Brazil reached their highest level on record in April.
Strict Rules and New Niches
To maintain order, some groups require at least one whistle per day and close overnight to monitor rule-breaking. Most members are men, though women-only groups are emerging. While the majority of groups are free to join and shared on social media, some warn about digital security risks of joining groups with strangers via open links. Dias noted, “I think most people are in it just for fun, but there are some who seem almost addicted to whistling and spend the entire day doing it.” His group organizes competitions through Instagram, where followers vote on voice note duels. The craze has spawned other niche groups where participants imitate dogs, cats, donkeys, or share photos of cars in a single specific color.
Expert Perspective
Dr. Adriana Amaral, coordinator of the CULTPOP research laboratory at Fluminense Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, views the trend as a repetition of earlier internet phenomena like “I hate Mondays” groups on Orkut or flashmob movements. “Historically, these ephemeral forms of aggregation have always existed and are linked to the way pop culture itself operates: they allow people to channel certain rituals, habits and tastes into communities of affinity,” she said.
Ayran Ferreira, an 18-year-old law student who also runs a group, predicts the trend will fade. “People want to take part just because it’s trending online, and they’re creating groups for all sorts of things—I’ve even seen one for imitating the sound of a backhoe—but I think it will eventually fade,” he said.
