China's latest body trend meme: Using an iPhone 6 to prove you have skinny legs

Another disturbing meme promoting unhealthy body image is going viral.
 By 
Alicia Tan
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

It looks like no amount of bad press will deter some women from putting themselves through bizarre challenges, simply to prove to others that they have the ideal body.

Just two weeks ago, Chinese women were taking to their social media accounts to post pics of their skinny midriffs that can be hidden behind an A4 sheet paper.


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Now, another disturbing meme has surfaced on the Internet: the "iPhone 6 knees" challenge.


Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable


Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Just as its name states, women are now using their iPhone 6 devices to cover their knees, in order to prove that their legs are skinny.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable


Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The meme went viral this week and has had no shortage of detractors online.

One Facebook commenter, Moon L. Leighton, wrote: "Whoever started these beauty trends certainly deserves a medal, something along the lines of 'The Most Moronic Idea of the Year'."

Another commented: "The world seems to be losing sense by the moment..."

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

It is unclear whether the challenge calls for an iPhone 6 or the bigger iPhone 6 Plus. However, the growing popularity of yet another beauty meme is concerning for the unhealthy body image it encourages in women.

And with the far smaller 4-inch iPhone SE coming out, here's hoping that the meme will stop real soon.

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Topics Memes

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Alicia Tan

Alicia Tan was an Asia Deputy Editor at Mashable. She has over 11 years of experience in journalism, magazine production and content publishing; specialising in women's lifestyle, fashion and beauty. When she's not writing, she's obsessing over Totoro, Ryan Gosling and online shopping.

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