It’s safe to say that TikTok has hit an all-time low. At the beginning of quarantine, individuals downloaded TikTok as a way to escape the pandemic and try out some cool choreography. What began as an app that allowed individuals to let loose and laugh with their friends has transformed into a place where people question their worth and their physical appearance.
Although tons of TikTokers film videos about body positivity and self-love, there are still videos with millions of views that can take a toll on individuals’ confidence. When TikTok videos go viral it’s hard to avoid them on the FYP, and playing them over and over again can suck.
So what’s trending on TikTok right now?
In September, avid TikTokers began to participate in the “side profile” challenge. Even though there haven’t been too many people posting “side profile” videos in October, the trend isn’t going to disappear anytime soon. In these clips, teens sing along to Avril Lavigne’s hit song “Girlfriend” while turning their bodies to the side. Even though this concept was created to empower teenagers and help them love their “imperfect” facial features, it’s turned into a competition where individuals flaunt their “perfect” side profiles.
This trend is definitely problematic and here’s why.
The majority of the people who post “side profile” videos are people with smaller noses. Although they have smaller noses, some of these content creators surprisingly admit that they are unhappy with their side profiles. Unfortunately, the comment sections for these videos are filled with comments like “I wish I looked like you” or “My side profile is awful compared to yours”. This teaches teenagers that there’s a beauty standard that everyone must achieve, and if individuals don’t have a perfectly sculpted and bump-free nose, then they have reasons to complain. It’s upsetting that many people don’t feel comfortable posting “side profile” videos if they are insecure about these features. It’s disappointing as TikTok is supposed to be a platform where individuals can empower others, but instead, people find themselves looking in the mirror and begin to over-analyze absolutely everything.
The truth is, many people weren’t aware of their side profiles before these TikTok videos started trending. Before downloading TikTok, I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with my nose but after watching a few “side profile” videos, I caught myself staring at my nose in the mirror. After going through this experience, I blocked “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne on TikTok so I wouldn’t see any more “side profile” videos on my feed. I asked myself “Why should I consume media that continuously puts me in a bad mood?” Some people don’t even know that blocking sounds is an option on TikTok – it’s a great call if you want to keep the app but would rather consume uplifting content instead.
Basically…
Join me in cancelling the “side profile” video trend. TikTok can definitely live without it! :)