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 audience for this, and it just went from there really."

He does not have any qualifications in relation to the advice he gives, which he says he is transparent about.

As well as sharing advice online, he has built an online pack to help people fix anxious attachments, which is the most common attachment style, which he says he has sold thousands of.

Speaking on coming up with his username, he said: "I think everyone likes a bit of a dad hug, and that's where it came from... I end up saying 'big hug' at the end of each video, and it worked accidentally because people wait for that now."

With more than 50,000 followers on TikTok and nearing 150,000 on Instagram, Hardisty's content focuses on 'no contact', the intentional stopping of all communication and interaction with an ex-partner after a breakup.

One of his pieces of advice for someone attempting 'no contact' is to block the person and delete any memories on their phone.

"Everytime you even see their name you reactivate the bond," he said in one of his videos.

He claims the best piece of feedback he has received was from a famous actor, who he did not reveal the identity of.

"A Hollywood A-list proper amazing childhood icon actor got back to me and said you are the first person who shifted me through from this person I'd been attached to for decades"

"That feels amazing."

When asked what his advice would be for someone going through a break-up, he said: "There are more things that you can do than you imagine."