# Science Validates TikTok’s ‘Move in Silence’ Goal‑Setting Trend

- Topic: science
- Source: [Upworthy](https://www.upworthy.com/science-confirms-move-in-silence-trend-might-be-smartest-way-to-achieve-your-goals-ex1/)
- Published: 2026-10-04
- Original: https://www.upworthy.com/science-confirms-move-in-silence-trend-might-be-smartest-way-to-achieve-your-goals-ex1/
- Language: en
- Image: https://www.upworthy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/origin-287.png?w=1200&quality=80

## At a glance

- NYU study shows private goal‑setters work 45 minutes on tasks, 12 minutes more than those who share plans.
- Psychologist Peter Gollwitzer found that announcing intentions creates a premature sense of completion, reducing motivation.
- University of Chicago research indicates positive feedback can lower motivation if perceived as progress rather than commitment.
- Experts advise sharing goals only with trusted friends, delaying public announcements until milestones are reached.

## Sources

- [Upworthy](https://www.upworthy.com/science-confirms-move-in-silence-trend-might-be-smartest-way-to-achieve-your-goals-ex1/)

## The story

TikTok’s “Move in Silence” trend, which urges users to keep their goals private until they are achieved, has gained millions of views. A New York University study published in Psychology Today found that participants who kept their objectives confidential worked an average of 45 minutes on tasks, compared with 33 minutes for those who announced their plans. The researchers noted that while the shared‑goal group felt closer to completion, they actually completed roughly 25 % less work. Psychologist Peter Gollwitzer, who led the research, explained that publicizing intentions creates a “premature sense of completeness” that can dampen motivation. He also highlighted how talking about a goal activates identity symbols in the brain, satisfying the desire to act without actual progress. Complementary research from the University of Chicago’s Ayelet Fishbach showed that positive feedback can reduce motivation when it is interpreted as progress rather than commitment. The studies suggest that sharing goals with a small, trusted circle and postponing public announcements until milestones are reached can preserve drive. The trend’s proponents argue that this quiet approach may help people stay focused and ultimately achieve their ambitions.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.upworthy.com/science-confirms-move-in-silence-trend-might-be-smartest-way-to-achieve-your-goals-ex1/)