It’s a new TikTok challenge that could leave a mark. For a few days, videos posted by some users show -dangerous- methods to create a scar on the cheek, using a pinch of fingers and a rotation. Problem, these “tutorial” videos accumulate hundreds of thousands of views on the social network, especially popular among the youngest.
Practice in theory prohibited
This trend, identified by the parisian, highlights a new form of self-mutilation that is far from harmless: Such manipulations can create stellate angiomas, persistent red marks on the skin, for several months. In some cases, laser surgery may be necessary.
According to BFMTV’s observations, these videos showing how to create these scars have accumulated over a million views on TikTok. Even the Chinese social network highlights them: when a user enters the letters “ci” in the search bar, TikTok suggests the keywords “scar on the cheeks”, then selects two videos in priority (400,000 and 270,000 views) that encourage this practice.
A massive distribution that, however, goes against the theoretical promises of TikTok. On its site, the platform ensures that it prohibits the dissemination of content that encourages self-harm. In late December 2022, a report by the NGO Center for Countering Digital Hate accused TikTok of promoting content related to self-harm or eating disorders.
In the West, TikTok is now the most popular platform for young people. According to the latest barometer from the Qustodio company, young people between the ages of 4 and 18 spend an average of two hours a day on the social network, which is also under pressure in the United States, but also in France, due to risks of interference and charging for personal data by the Chinese government.
Contacted by BFMTV, TikTok has yet to respond.
Source: BFM TV
