Jeans ripped at the knees, a sad look, a large earphone to listen to music as he sinks into the seat of the train, and a message that sounds like an appeal: "One day a week when I go out, I decide to go to Bari and I'm going alone because I don't have any friends to go out with. Hearing my mom say, 'I can come so no, you go alone' is another kind of pain."
The video was posted on TikTok by the singer Potes, from the province of Bari, just 18 years old and with the courage of a mature man to admit that he feels alone, right on social networks where the younger ones often hide their weaknesses to always show themselves strong and invincible.
His message quickly went around the web, exceeding 300,000 views, 26,000 "likes" and over 900 comments from all over Italy.
Some write that "we are all alone" and that "going out with mom is beautiful".
But many say they are ready to go out with him, "a very sweet boy".
And so Potes smiles again, accepts the offer and posts another video of him wearing a trendy shirt, ready for a night out.
This video is also accompanied by a message, this time positive: "I noticed that we are all too alone - he writes - so guys from Bari and the surrounding area, write me on Instagram, so we can go out together as soon as possible: we are a family".
The large network on this occasion served to form a group to help each other, sharing their feelings.
"Why are we all so alone?" writes one girl on Potes' profile.
"Idem, I alone too", adds another young woman who proposes: "Shall we go to Bari together?".
"I'm here, from Molfetta", "Me too, for anyone who wants to go out in Bari", other guys join.
The theme raised by Potes, that of loneliness, is felt by many of his peers: "I understand you - writes a young woman - even I don't have friends to go out here".
Many remind Potes that his mother's, who offers to go out with him, "is pure love";
"How cute," they comment.
To the messages of the younger ones are also added those of some parents: "Even my son was like that up to 19 years old, now he's 21 and he's full of friends", writes a mother to encourage him.
While a dad, with a sad emoticon, says: "My daughter is in the same situation as you".
On TikTok and Instagram, Potes posts videos of her singing, some shot in her bedroom, others during public performances.
In one passage, in particular, she wonders: "What is wrong with me, what is feeling good? I don't remember it anymore".
