Relationship patterns lead to social media success

A man has gained hundreds of thousands of followers on social media by giving break-up and relationship advice. Harry Hardisty shares his advice on various platforms including Instagram and TikTok, going by the name "dadhugsforyoursoul". He told BBC Radio Berkshire he was inspired to start making videos to help others after going through several break-ups and "difficult relationship situations" himself. The 53-year-old from Burnham near Slough describes his online content as "practical, direct, apparently brutal but not too brutal break-up help". Hardisty's content - which aims to help people to cope with life's most challenging moments, especially ending emotionally unavailable or avoidant relationships - is primarily aimed at women. "Women seem to be more active in break-ups and in emotional pain, they seem to take the steps more actively than men," he said. "[Women] seem to take the practical step, they seem to want to fix it, which is beautiful - it's really resonated with them." The idea to make his first TikTok video came to him when he woke up one morning, and the rest is history. "The first video went a bit berserk straight away and I thought oh, ok, maybe there's an audien