A new trend has sparked interest across many social media platforms: number neighbors.

People are blind texting a person whose number is one digit above or below their own cell phone number. For example, if the last digit of a person’s cell phone number is 6, they would text numbers ending in either 5 or 7. 

Some people are posting the responses they receive, and many are funny and bizarre.

I’m not one to typically follow trends, but I was curious. I texted my number neighbor and little did I know, but I was in for a surprise. 

On Saturday, Aug 17,  I was hanging out with my best friend Noelle. We were watching Tik Toks when we stumbled upon a video about number neighbors. 

Noelle texted hers first and she immediately got a response. They had a friendly interaction so that encouraged me to text my own neighbor.

For whatever reason, I began to wonder if texting my number neighbor was safe. I didn’t want to put myself in a situation where I would be texting a psychopath and next thing I know, he’s showing up to my house and murdering me. Plus, what do you say to a total stranger you’ve never spoken to before?

Then again, it’s 2019 and with that, I “YOLOed” myself and texted my number neighbor  “Hey, number neighbor!”

Within seconds my phone started buzzing. It was a Facetime call. My number neighbor was Facetiming me! I couldn’t believe it.

I can’t tell you why I answered the call, but all I know is that I’m glad I did. As soon as I heard his deep distinctive voice say “Wassup my G?” I knew we’d be friends.

He laughed hysterically on the other end of the phone, and then the call ended. Noelle and I burst into unstoppable laughter.

Then he texted me.

“Bruh, I didn’t expect that to work” as in me actually answering the Facetime call. We continued texting for a while when my phone buzzed again. It was a different number that I didn’t recognize, but I answered it anyway.

“DO NOT TEXT MY BOYFRIEND!” someone screamed over the phone. I apologized for talking to his “boyfriend” and he threatened to punt my dog across the road–all while laughing.

I knew then that these boys were jokesters and that we would get along very well.

Aljiah Click is my number neighbor, but he prefers to go by his last name.

The second caller is Big Ave, a friend of Click’s, and the two of them are seniors at Bryan Station High School. 

It’s crazy that out of all the people who could have been my number neighbor, Click happens to be a senior just like me at a school across town.

And, small world, Big Ave’s older brother is friends with my older brother.

I am very glad to have met both of them. We all tell each other jokes and send each other goofy pictures. 

In fact, we are planning on going to homecoming together. My number neighbor and his friend are now my friends, too. 

Not all internet trends are bad.