What are sneaky links on TikTok? The social media phenomenon explained

What to know about sneaky links, the racy hashtag that's taken over TikTok

Woman looking at her phone in the middle of the night
(Image credit: Getty Images)

What's with the term "sneaky links"? It's one of the wildest TikTok trends, that's for sure. 

From life hacks and the best TikTok songs to the best TikTok dances and makeup tutorials, the video-sharing platform always seems to provide a wealth of information we never knew we needed. In some cases, the platform's viral trends skew towards risqué ideas, especially as of late. (Did you see those viral sex chocolates making the rounds?) 

The term "sneaky links" has raked in millions of views across multiple hashtags. But what exactly does this new slang entail? Allow us to fill you in. 

Essentially, this is social media's way of allowing quick hookups to come to fruition. "Sneaky links" let TikTok users arrange an in-person meet up for a casual fling, and some platform users go so far as to have a dedicated sneaky links schedule—commitment for the commitment-phobes.

You might be familiar with the "Sneaky Links" song that accompanies many a video. Catch the HXLLYWOOD track below. Of course, you've heard that song on your FYP. 

@han.lewis

♬ Sneaky Link - HXLLYWOOD

The sneaky link meetup is intended to be a secretive, no-strings rendezvous—think the kind of clandestine meeting one would set up with their side piece or forbidden lover. 

The truly dedicated #SneakyLinks followers also share their go-to beauty buys and intimate items and toys that they use the night of. (We told you to hold onto your hats!) And, according to a few videos under the #SneakyLinks hashtag, one of the most important rules is to never fall for said sneaky links—it's all about being casual.

When it comes to TikTok, sneaky links manifest as memes, lingerie shots, beauty go-to's and, at times, a bit too much information. See some examples of sneaky links below: 

@jesss_017

VS haul😇💗 ##fyp ##foryou ##sneaklink ##haul

♬ Goosebumps_HVME_Remix - CATWALKER
@jesss_017

good evening😴✨ ##fyp ##foryou ##showertok ##forthegirls ##victoriassecret ##sneaklink ##selfcare

♬ WE FOUND LOVE CHALLENGE - Carlo Torrijos

For those who are keen on sticking with TikTok's cleaning hacks rather than setting up any sneaky links of their own, there are still plenty of other ways to enjoy a steamy evening.

Need a few tips? We've got you: sex toys promise a big O with minimal effort, and our favorite app-controlled vibrators are making a buzz. Take for example the Lovense Nora (our review calls it "mind-blowing" and touts its G-spot stimulating spinning head), which has gone viral thanks to a humorous sex toy video about the device on Twitter.

If you're interested in taking things up a notch with your S.O., we did the difficult work of uncovering the best sex tips ever, straight from the experts. If you're caught up on your 2022 love horoscope, you know that love (and transformation) are on the horizon this year. 

No matter what steamy phenomenon has captured millennial minds—from the most popular sex toys to sneaky links Q's and everything in between—we're always here to help you learn more.

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.