“Don’t Judge Challenge” promotes body shaming

Alternative hashtag emerges to encourage self-acceptance

Cedar Thomas

The Don’t Judge Challenge, originally started to promote self-love, soon turned into another way to shame people for their appearance.

Videos with the hashtag #Don’tJudgeChallenge have flooded social media sites after beauty blogger Em Ford posted a video removing all her makeup to show her bare face, according to Time.

In the challenge, people make videos in which they draw acne, unibrows and other features on their faces. Participants then cover the camera before revealing their faces without these “flaws,” and often with makeup.  

Although the title suggests that the challenge means people should stop judging based on looks, it has become a way to mock certain features.

These videos reinforce harmful beauty standards by deeming certain features as undesirable and unattractive.

While some may see these as just silly videos, the effects of this body shaming are real.

According to National Children’s Bureau, 60 percent of adults feel ashamed of their appearance and 42 percent of young women feel the pressure to be attractive comes as a negative aspect of being a female.

Backlash against the challenge has emerged with Don’t Judge Challenge participants creating videos taking off makeup to show their natural appearance and with #BeautyInAll.

This new hashtag, #BeautyInAll allows people to post photos of their bodies to show their self-love, despite the body-shaming comments they hear.

#BeautyInAll has accomplished the initial goal of the Don’t Judge Challenge by allowing people to express love for parts of their bodies that are commonly shamed.