Collarbone Challenge Is The Newest 'Harmful' Body-Shaming Craze To Take Over Social Media | HuffPost Life

Body-Shaming Crazes Are Becoming A Victim Of Their Own Stupidity

Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK

A week after the belly button challenge took the internet by storm (and outraged a fair few people in the process), yet another ridiculous viral trend has emerged.

And it involves collarbones.

Originating in China, the "collarbone challenge" encourages participants to balance coins in their clavicle to test how "skinny" they are.

According to Chinese site, Sina News, being able to balance the coins along the collarbone represents a "skinny" and "sexy" body.

But, like its predecessor the belly button challenge, it's only really succeeding at shaming people's bodies.

"I think this trend is very harmful," body image blogger, Leyah Shanks, tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.

"It's accentuating the idea that thinner is better and subsequently pushing down every other body type. Being able to do this is not what we should be basing our beauty and self worth on."

She adds: "I'm not sure why these odd trends keep appearing. I wish that the power of social media would be used to spread body love instead of encouraging dangerous comparisons."

SEE ALSO:
Belly Button Challenge: 'Disturbing' Social Media Trend Sends Negative Body Image Message To Women, Say Experts
Boobs Over Belly Buttons: This Campaign Proves There Are More Important Things In Life Than The Belly Button Challenge

"Social media can be a powerful, positive influence," says a spokesperson for eating disorders charity, Beat.

"However, the emphasis on image sharing and selfies is putting increasing pressure on young people in particular to look a certain way.

"Eating disorders are complex and multi-causal so while social media in itself is not sufficient to cause an eating disorder, being constantly bombarded with images of others, and constant – sometimes unfavourable – comparisons can be toxic for those susceptible to an eating disorder."

Useful websites and helplines:
Beat, call 0845 634 7650 or email fyp@b-eat.co.uk
Samaritans, open 24 hours a day, on 08457 90 90 90
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393

How To Teach Positive Body Image

#1(01 of10)

I kept superficial comments about looks on the low down -- theirs, mine and other peoples. Looking well-kempt and co-ordinated was noticed rather than looking beautiful. (credit:Getty)

#2(02 of10)

I didn’t ban Barbies or princesses, but I added to the mix some real proportioned dolls. Check out Lottie Dolls or Lammily. (credit:Getty)

#3(03 of10)

Story time included books like The Paper Bag Princess or anything recommended on the Amelia Bloomer Project created by the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.A Mighty Girl is another great site. It's tag line is: the world's largest collection of books, toys and movies for smart, confident, and courageous girls. (credit:Getty)

#4(04 of10)

I made sure my children understood the word diet meant the food you eat. A monkey at the zoo has a diet and so does an athlete. Diet doesn’t mean losing weight.We all have to watch our diet to be healthy. We need to be in a healthy weight range as recommended by our doctors, not our peers or magazines. (credit:Getty)

#5(05 of10)

As puberty approached I discussed genetics, hormones and the challenges that I faced, as had my mother before me. (credit:Getty)

#6(06 of10)

My girls used their allowance to buy "J-14" and "Tiger Beat" magazines, but I would give them a subscription to "New Moon" as my Christmas gift. Also check out "Shameless" magazine. (credit:Getty)

#7(07 of10)

We discussed how the human form comes in all shapes and sizes. Check out Queen Latifah and Beyonce. They are both proud women who embrace their shape and size. (credit:Getty)

#8(08 of10)

When their bodies blossomed we looked online at what REAL breasts look like. Reality is very different from the porn sites or fashion magazines. (credit:Getty)

#9(09 of10)

I educated my daughters about how models are Photoshopped by watching and discussing the Dove Self-Esteem campaign. (credit:Getty)

#10(10 of10)

As they entered into high school we discussed friends who were developing eating disorders and who followed fads such as “pro-ana”, “thigh gap” and “thinspiration.”We talked about the political power to create change, as demonstrated by some magazines and organizations in the fashion industry that banned size zero models from the runway after several deaths of severely underweight models. (credit:Getty)

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