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Insight of the Day: The darker side of TikTok beauty trends

Findings

  • TikTok beauty trends are propagating unrealistic beauty standards, often through the use of filters and viral challenges.

  • These trends can harm users' self-esteem and body image, especially among younger audiences.

  • Dangerous challenges such as the "blackout challenge" and the "Borg challenge" pose severe physical risks and have led to hospitalizations and fatalities.

Key Takeaway

  • The beauty trends on TikTok are not just about aesthetics; they have profound implications on mental health and physical safety. The need for better content moderation and user education is critical.

Trend

  • The trend is the propagation of unrealistic beauty standards and dangerous challenges through viral TikTok content.

Consumer Motivation

  • Consumers, particularly young users, are motivated by the desire to conform to popular beauty standards and to gain social media validation through likes and shares.

What is Driving the Trend

  • The trend is driven by TikTok’s algorithm, which prioritizes engaging content, often amplifying trends that garner high interaction regardless of their potential harm.

Who are the People the Article is Referring To

  • The article refers to young TikTok users, influencers, and the general audience engaging in beauty trends and challenges.

Description of Consumers' Product or Service and Age

  • The consumers are primarily teenagers and young adults, typically aged 13-24, engaging with beauty products and participating in beauty-related challenges and trends on TikTok.

Conclusions

  • TikTok’s beauty trends are contributing to the spread of unrealistic beauty standards and promoting risky behavior.

  • There is a need for increased awareness, better content moderation, and digital literacy education to mitigate these negative effects.

Implications for Brands

  • Brands need to be cautious about how they engage with TikTok trends, ensuring they do not promote unrealistic beauty standards or harmful behaviors.

  • There is an opportunity for brands to support positive body image and safe online behaviors through their marketing strategies.

Implications for Society

  • Society must address the impact of social media on mental health and physical safety, particularly among the youth.

  • Promoting digital literacy and responsible content creation is essential to protect young users from the adverse effects of these trends.

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