The collarbone challenge is the latest body shaming social media craze
ANOTHER day, another terrible and ridiculous body shaming social media trend takes off online. Today, it’s the collarbone challenge.
ANOTHER day, another terrible and ridiculous body shaming social media trend takes off online. Today, it’s the collarbone challenge.
The theory goes that the thinner you are, the more pronounced your collarbone is. To celebrate this victory, women are balancing stacks of coins in the groove of their collarbones and posting photos of their wonderful achievement on the Chinese social media site Weibo. The more coins you can fit in that tiny groove, the skinnier you are, apparently.
One of the most popular images is of Chinese actress Lv Jiarong, who is photographed balancing around 80 coins on her two collarbones.
This disturbing “trend” comes fresh off the heels of the #bellybuttonchallenge, where you reach around your waist and try to touch your bellybutton. The belly button challenge also started on Weibo, with the accompanying hashtag translating to “reach your belly button from behind to show you have a good figure.”
The Butterfly Foundation CEO Christine Morgan says the collarbone challenge promotes eating disorders.
“Viral social media trends such as this further promote body shaming and send out negative messages about body image,” she told news.com.au.
“Those who have not achieved the ‘challenge’ may feel like they don’t measure up to the cultural ideals of beauty and body shape and can experience intense body dissatisfaction which is damaging to their psychological and physical wellbeing.”
Ms Morgan says an increasing number of men and women have disordered eating issues.
“Worrying about what you look like and how other people will judge your looks is at epidemic proportions because our society idolises beauty and places a high value on people’s looks instead of who they are and how they contribute to our community.
Some social media users have poked fun at the collarbone craze by balancing random objects on their collarbones and chests.
Anyone needing support with body image or eating disorders is encouraged to phone the Butterfly National Eating Disorders Supportline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE).