Some TikTok challenges are funny, some heartwarming, while others have actually been quite dangerous. However, the latest, called “The Silhouette Challenge,” started as a body-positivity movement, celebrating how all bodies are sexy and beautiful. Unfortunately, nothing is safe from internet creeps. People have been posting YouTube tutorials about how to remove the red filter so that you can reveal the person in the video and what they may or may not be wearing. (1)
TikTok Users Warning Women About Participating in the Silhouette Challenge
Apparently, on the internet, women can’t have nice things. The Silhouette Challenge on TikTok started as a fun way for women to celebrate the beauty that is the female form in all shapes and sizes. (1)
The trend involves women first standing in front of the camera fully clothed, then standing in their doorway, but seen only as a silhouette with a red filter. The whole thing is set to a remix of Paul Anka’s “Put Your Hand On My Shoulder,” and the women dance and show off their figures. Some of the women choose to remain clothed for the video’s silhouette portion, whereas others decide to wear lingerie or nothing at all. (1)
@mrsmosquito Tried this trend…wait for it 😁#silhouette#mrsmosquito#fyp#xybca#trending#foryou#putyourheadonmyshoulder
♬ Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Giulia Di Nicolantonio
Unfortunately, the trend has been hijacked by internet creeps who feel it is their right to see the women without the filter. They are using software to remove the red filter and reveal the women’s bodies, and are sharing these tutorials on YouTube. (1)
People have viewed these tutorials hundreds of thousands of times, and YouTube has even monetized. The most popular video has more than 233,000 views. (1)
Many Are Victim Blaming Women Who Participated in The Silhouette Challenge
As what often happens in these cases, the men who are posting and using the filter-removal tutorials claim that it is the women’s fault and not theirs. On social media, many people have resorted to victim-blaming. They say that if someone chooses to post a video on the internet in which they are not fully clothed, even if they put a filter on it not to reveal their body, they can’t get upset if someone decides to remove the filter and repost the photos. This includes if the reposted images are within a YouTube tutorial. (1)
Professor of law at Boston University Law School Danielle Citron says that violated women actually can seek legal recourse. (1)
“We have a reasonable expectation that photos we post won’t be undressed and images and identities used to strip us…..when I go out with a short skirt, is that permission to look up my skirt with a drone?” she told the Rolling Stone. (1)
@sw333tnothings be careful! #silhouettechallenge #GEICOLipSync #chicago #silhouette
♬ Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Giulia Di Nicolantonio
YouTube’s Response
Many women on TikTok are now posting videos warning other women about the Silhouette Challenge. They warn them to be careful if they choose to participate in the trend because of these tutorial videos. Others are angry at YouTube for allowing these filter removal tutorial videos to remain online. (1)
Google, who owns YouTube, said that they have demonetized all videos that feature highly sexualized themes. (1)
“TikTok videos that contain nudity can not be re-uploaded to YouTube, as they violate our adult content policies. Additionally, we will remove content uploaded to YouTube that has been altered to reveal participant’s bodies in a way that was not intended by the original uploader.” (1)
As of now, however, the tutorial videos that do not feature nudity are still online.
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References
- “YouTube Is Profiting Off Creeps Hacking a Sexy, Body-Positive TikTok Challenge.” Rolling Stone. EJ Dickson. February 2021.