Elmo checks in and gets buried with angst

The account for “Sesame Street’s” famous red muppet, Elmo, took to social media Monday to ask a seemingly straightforward question: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?”

The inquiry on X, formerly known as Twitter, was met with an outpouring of angst and existential dread form thousands of users who told Elmo things aren’t actually going too well for them.

One user told Elmo they were just laid off, while another informed Elmo their dog “just rolled around in goose poop.” One user told the childhood character simply: “Elmo, we are not okay.”

A series of users simply posted memes, GIFs or photos to express despair, including the account for the video message platform Cameo, which posted a photo of a woman with her head against a wall.

Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) quipped up in a reply, “Not well. I serve in Congress.”

With more than 47,000 reposts, 12,000 replies and 175 million views as of Wednesday morning, the post drew responses from everyday people, sports team, celebrities, members of Congress and even President Biden.

The replies ranged from topics of depression, hopelessness, anxiety over the 2024 election, and plenty on the recent disappointment of football fans who won’t see their team at next month’s Super Bowl.

Overall, the replies seemed to give some kind of glimpse into what parts of the country and population are thinking.

“We’ve been better, Elmo,” the Detroit Free Press wrote, following the Detroit Lions’ recent loss to the San Francisco 49ers in a conference championship game.

“The lions and ravens lost, so not great elmo,” another user wrote.

Given the popularity of the discussion, a number of brands sounded off, including Oreo, which wrote, “ran out of milk. do the math,” and Dunkin’, which wrote, “I could honestly use an iced coffee.”

Universal Pictures wrote, “Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy,” while RITZ Crackers suggested it may be best if Elmo “save[s] this question for a different time.”

It wasn’t all bleak, however, with some companies writing more uplifting messages, including Sony Pictures’s “Feeling [100 emoji]” and Firefox’s “We’re out here, just browsin’.”

The Elmo account responded to thousands of replies Tuesday, writing on X, “Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing. Elmo will check in again soon, friends! Elmo loves you,” followed by a heart emoji and the #EmotionalWellBeing hashtag.

Biden urged users to follow Elmo’s latest message on emotional support.

“I know how hard it is some days to sweep the clouds away and get to sunnier days,” Biden wrote on X. “Our friend Elmo is right: We have to be there for each other, offer our help to a neighbor in need, and above all else, ask for help when we need it. Even though it’s hard, you’re never alone”

Some users suggested the slew of replies Elmo received represents “trauma dumping,” often defined as the “oversharing” of difficult emotions and thoughts with the expectation to receive a sympathetic response.

Elmo’s account, along with those for Big Bird, Grover and other “Sesame Street” characters, are run by Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit behind the long-running children’s television show.

The nonprofit last year announced a multi-year commitment to the “emotional well-being” of young kids and families in response to what it called a “growing mental health crisis” for young children. This commitment has included online resources for mental health, meditations and activities to boost emotional well-being.

Recent studies have indicated a bleak picture of youth mental health in America. A KFF analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data published last March found half of people 18-24 reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2023. 

Aaron Bisman, vice president of audience development for the Sesame Workshop, told The Hill its social media team recognizes the relationship its audiences have developed with the show’s characters over the past 54 years. 

“Elmo is the lovable furry monster audiences have a deep connection with and is a good friend asking you ‘how are you doing?'” he wrote in a statement.