Another day, another social media challenge to make you escatic you're no longer a teen.
By some form of reverse Darwinism, teens have managed to survive snorting cinnamon, sucking on shot glasses to plump their lips like Kylie Jenner and summoning the devil.
Now, they have taken up the noble cause of battling insecurity and body shaming -- by mocking insecurities and body shaming. Teen logic is the best logic.
Teens are posting videos on Instagram, Vine and Tumblr (several with help from the video-editing app Musical.ly) that show them transforming from "ugly" -- covered in painted-on acne and unibrows, wearing aluminum foil braces, and sporting frizzy hair -- into their most attractive, made-up selves, using the hashtag #DontJudgeChallenge.
The challenge has yet to be traced back to one or two teen masterminds, but the Chicago Tribune speculates the YouTube video "YOU LOOK DISGUSTING," by British beauty blogger Em Ford, could have sparked the hashtag. The video shows Ford's make-up free face overlaid with negative YouTube comments and then shows her transformation using beauty products. It has amassed more than 9 million views since July 1.
http://ayeeesian.tumblr.com/post/123353171125/my-video-went-pretty-viral-so-here-it-is
GIRLS #dontjudgechallenge pic.twitter.com/AjLmSEvdKa— #DontJudgeChallenge (@DontJudgeChalle) July 6, 2015
#DontJudgeChallenge A video posted by RN (@the_dopest_ethiopian) on Jul 4, 2015 at 3:10pm PDT
#dontjudgechallenge pic.twitter.com/wYYXROvKKn— #DontJudgeChallenge (@DontJudgeChalle) July 6, 2015
More for the ladies #DontJudgeChallenge pic.twitter.com/8ldaVD7hky— Dont Judge Challenge (@DontJudgeUs_) July 6, 2015
#dontjudgechallenge tried pic.twitter.com/p1nPWk1BsG— Pandula (@deio_vos) July 6, 2015
But don't fear a Doomsday brought upon by teens just yet. There are a few saviors of humanity left.
Several have called out the challenge for condoning conceitedness; others have mocked the challenge with memes; and better yet, still others have created the #BeautyInAllChallenge in hopes of actually inspiring body confidence.
#dontjudgechallenge Literally so stupid pic.twitter.com/wlSL21ICn0— Abigail (@abigaildxwns) July 6, 2015
The #dontjudgechallange is nothing but an excuse for a bunch of attractive ppl to make fun of others all in the name of a "joke"— / / i a n / / (@404gender) July 6, 2015
guys don't judge me, i worked really hard on this look. #dontjudgechallenge pic.twitter.com/rdARhmxPk7— FREDDY (@FreddyAmazin) July 5, 2015
The original #dontjudgechallenge pic.twitter.com/ZqN8eW0TYR— Aaron Doh (@Aaron_Doh) July 6, 2015
i don't like the acne on my face but still, i love myself #BeautyInAllChallenge pic.twitter.com/nQEr7VdIK6— endriana (@dvndymott) July 7, 2015
I have had acne for years & my chin isnt aligned properly but I love my body bc its all my own #beautyinallchallenge pic.twitter.com/3U46Zs9iDQ— trinh. (@charlesanderik) July 7, 2015
#BeautyInAllChallenge because spots/wonky teeth/glasses etc are BEAUTIFUL pic.twitter.com/KuVMO0XhcS— sailor (@taojonesindex) July 7, 2015
#BeautyInAllChallenge because i used to get taunted for "not looking like an indian" because of my dark skin pic.twitter.com/6ybg6y0gCb— earth angel (@_yungtulip) July 6, 2015
#BeautyInAllChallenge because despite my clothing choices or my hairy chubby stomach/face I'm still beautiful pic.twitter.com/ZjO0mYLG6H— william (@bae_sic) July 6, 2015