[Ammi]

'There’s A YouTube trend among teenage girls called “Pretty Or Ugly,” and it’s hugely troubling

Almost half a million girls have uploaded videos onto YouTube, inviting internet trolls to validate their appearances

That’s almost half a million girls between the ages of 9 and 14 posting videos online asking strangers to assess whether they’re pretty or ugly

The weird thing is, the girls uploading these videos aren’t stupid.


They’re part of an internet-savvy generation. They’ve seen the other videos. They know that uploading their own and putting themselves up for scrutiny will invite brutal criticism from internet trolls.

And yet they do it anyway

Louise Orwin, a 26-year-old artist from London, decided to explore this disturbing phenomenon



“For the last couple of years I’ve been looking at how teenage girls use social media,” Orwin said. “That’s how I came across a Tumblr video of a young girl asking strangers how attractive she was. She was so earnest. I found that really interesting; the way she was talking about something so dark but expressing it so innocently.”

It didn’t take long for Orwin to find Reddit threads, Yahoo! Answers boards, and over 40 pages of YouTube videos, dedicated same question.

“I’m an artist and I’m a feminist,” Orwin explained. “I thought: I’ve got to do something.”


So Orwin created three teenage alter egos and uploaded two-minute videos of each of them to YouTube.


All three asked the same question: Am I pretty or ugly?


“They were called Becky, Baby, and Amanda,” Orwin told BuzzFeed. “Becky was your standard rock chick, wearing heavy eye makeup and playing an emo soundtrack in the background. Baby was a Britney Spears wannabe. And Amanda was me, without makeyup, in a wig, wearing glasses.”

In total, the three videos received 4,000 comments. Baby, “the most conventionally good looking of the characters,” received the most the most attention, but it was the internet’s reaction to Becky that shocked Louise. “About a month after I posted it, there was a real spike in interest,” she said'



..the rest of the story/Youtube vids and some of the comments they have attracted...


http://www.buzzfeed.com/tabathalegge...pretty-or-ugly

[lostalex]

I don't understand why it's disturbing.

The truth is most people think they are better looking than they actually are. It's probably a good thing for people to hear the truth about themselves so they can have more realistic expectations.

when ever you see a fat girl in tight clothes, they really think that they look good. self-delusion is very powerful.

most people when they look in the mirror focus on one part of themselves that they like. Most people will say things to themselves like "i have really nice eyes" or "i have really nice breasts" and completely block out the bigger picture. Most unattractive people really don't know that they are unattractive.

You see it all the time, hideous repulsive men walking around like they are god's gift to women, or fat sloppy women marching around in tight clothes like they are models.

people are very delusional about how other people see them.

[Ammi]

..I don't agree that 'most people think they are better looking than they are' though, Alex...I think that no matter what anyone else thinks, people in general will look in the mirror and only see what they see and that has more to do with self-esteem than physical appearances...there are many conventionally 'attractive' people and I guess females in this instance, just because the article is about girls in particular.. who no matter how much they are complimented for their appearance, can think that they're 'ugly' because they have no or very little self confidence and that's how they see themselves..you see it all the time when someone thinks that of themselves and you think ...'huh, but you're gorgeous..'..and that's really sad....

..and I guess someone could see it as people wearing clothes that don't suit their figure as a bad thing but they have the confidence in themselves to do it, so that's a good thing....

[Nedusa]

And people wonder why teenage suicides are on the increase..!!!!

[lostalex]

I think girls should be confident for other reasons, not how good-looking or how ugly they are.

The problem is not girls being ugly, the problem is that girls think that being attractive is the only way to be self-confident. So you see a lot of ugly girls marching around trying to be pretty, but they aren't pretty they are ugly, they need to realize that.

Girls should have self worth even if they are ugly. They should be proud of being smart, or talented, or for the good work they do. Being good looking doesn't make you a good person.

The problem is not with people telling ugly girls that they are ugly, the problem is that girls think that how they look has anything to do with their own worth as a person. You can be a great person without being "sexy". You can be an amazing person even though you are physically unattractive.

But marching around needing a confidence boost from other people, being hypersensitive, needing constant reassurance from other people that you are good looking, that just makes you look like a twat.

Here's a shocking statement, how you look IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I think girls should be confident for other reasons, not how good-looking or how ugly they are.

The problem is not girls being ugly, the problem is that girls think that being attractive is the only way to be self-confident. So you see a lot of ugly girls marching around trying to be pretty, but they aren't pretty they are ugly, they need to realize that.

Girls should have self worth even if they are ugly. They should be proud of being smart, or talented, or for the good work they do. Being good looking doesn't make you a good person.

The problem is not with people telling ugly girls that they are ugly, the problem is that girls think that how they look has anything to do with their own worth as a person.

Here's a shocking statement, how you look IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

the problem is, image is now more important that anything else.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

the problem is, image is now more important that anything else.

it's only important to assholes, and who cares what assholes think anyway?

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I think girls should be confident for other reasons, not how good-looking or how ugly they are.

The problem is not girls being ugly, the problem is that girls think that being attractive is the only way to be self-confident. So you see a lot of ugly girls marching around trying to be pretty, but they aren't pretty they are ugly, they need to realize that.

Girls should have self worth even if they are ugly. They should be proud of being smart, or talented, or for the good work they do. Being good looking doesn't make you a good person.

The problem is not with people telling ugly girls that they are ugly, the problem is that girls think that how they look has anything to do with their own worth as a person. You can be a great person without being "sexy". You can be an amazing person even though you are physically unattractive.

But marching around needing a confidence boost from other people, being hypersensitive, needing constant reassurance from other people that you are good looking, that just makes you look like a twat.

Here's a shocking statement, how you look IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

..yeah, I totally agree that physical appearance isn't what makes an 'attractive' person and beauty is subjective anyway...but isn't that why this is disturbing though, some of these girls are as young as 9yrs old and people are already commenting on their physical appearance in a negative way..and then they're asking total strangers/trolls on the internet to make comment on that....

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by lostalex

it's only important to assholes, and who cares what assholes think anyway?

the assholes around the world make so much money from filling peoples heads with its all about image, the people that young girls listen too, are in the asshole's pockets.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..yeah, I totally agree that physical appearance isn't what makes an 'attractive' person and beauty is subjective anyway...but isn't that why this is disturbing though, some of these girls are as young as 9yrs old and people are already commenting on their physical appearance in a negative way..and then they're asking total strangers/trolls on the internet to make comment on that....

I think these girls get it off their parents and are bombarded by the media that its all about the way you look.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..yeah, I totally agree that physical appearance isn't what makes an 'attractive' person and beauty is subjective anyway...but isn't that why this is disturbing though, some of these girls are as young as 9yrs old and people are already commenting on their physical appearance in a negative way..and then they're asking total strangers/trolls on the internet to make comment on that....

well that's why it's important for girls (and boys) to have positive role models in real life. and that's where parents come in. If you let your children be raised by TV and media, then of course they will have issues. kids need positive role models in real life.

If you ignore your kids and the only real influence they have is what they see in our commercial world where everyone is a super model celebrity with airbrushing and special lighting and editing, then of course they will have unrealistic expectations for themselves.
That's a parenting issue though.

If your kid thinks what they see on TV is real, or that they need to live up to that standard, then you have done a crap job as a parent.

I know my parents did a good job because when i was growing up i hated all of that superficial crap. I laughed at the cheerleaders in my high school. I could spot a poseur from a mile away when i was growing up.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by lostalex

well that's why it's important for girls (and boys) to have positive role models in real life. and that's where parents come in. If you let your children be raised by TV and media, then of course they will have issues. kids need positive role models in real life.

If you ignore your kids and the only real influence they have is what they see in our commercial world where everyone is a super model celebrity with airbrushing and special lighting and editing, then of course they will have unrealistic expectations for themselves.
That's a parenting issue though.

If your kid thinks what they see on TV is real, then you have done a crap job as a parent.

this is a society issue now, it gone past the good parent stage as they them selfes are part of the problem.

[lostalex]

i don't think it's the entire internet's job to raise kids. To expect the entire internet to act like parents to these kids, i just think that's unrealistic and absurd.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

I think these girls get it off their parents and are bombarded by the media that its all about the way you look.

Originally Posted by lostalex

well that's why it's important for girls (and boys) to have positive role models in real life. and that's where parents come in. If you let your children be raised by TV and media, then of course they will have issues. kids need positive role models in real life.

If you ignore your kids and the only real influence they have is what they see in our commercial world where everyone is a super model celebrity with airbrushing and special lighting and editing, then of course they will have unrealistic expectations for themselves.
That's a parenting issue though.

If your kid thinks what they see on TV is real, then you have done a crap job as a parent.

..obviously a parent can play a big part in reassuring/guiding their children and are a huge influence at a young age especially but I don't agree that this is just a 'parenting' thing in that it's these girls' friends/peers who are commenting on their physical looks initially, which has led to this and a parent can step in of course..but in my experience of families at school, they don't always know everything and therefore can't act....I think where a parent's responsibility in the first place is to always from when a child is able to communicate vebally, to constantly encourage communication..but obviously, even then..a lot of young teenage people can go though phases in their lives/hormonal changes in their lives etc, when they become 'closed' to adults in particular....

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by lostalex

i don't think it's the entire internet's job to raise kids. To expect the entire internet to act like parents to these kids, i just think that's unrealistic and absurd.

I never said it was
if you look to the parents to steer their kids in the right direction then this will fail.
we have terms now like yummy mummy and milf, women are spending more on their image and fitness and their kids see this.

[lostalex]

I think it's about parents teaching their children critical thinking. Children who are taught to think critically, and to realize that what they see in media is for marketing purposes, they understand that what they see is the ideal, not reality. in the same way when they are learning science and math, they don't have to be as smart as stephen hawking to be a scientist or mathematician.

It's not society's job to cater to children. It is the parent's job. I am an adult, and i shouldn't have to be thinking about what YOUR child might see when i post on the internet. That's YOUR job as a parent. not mine.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

I never said it was
if you look to the parents to steer their kids in the right direction then this will fail.
we have terms now like yummy mummy and milf, women are spending more on their image and fitness and their kids see this.

..yeah, there might be some of that contributing but I honestly don't think that can be completely blamed because parents aren't the only influence on their children, they get to an age when peer opinions become more valid to them and a parent can help with that, I agree if they see the 'wrongs' but they don't always know straight away though...I know of perfectly good parents who don't allow their children to watch any 'trash' TV/read magazines etc...and their children are still exposed to things in a playground/friendship situation...it's really hard for a parent to see everything all the time...and hard for them they are often 'judged' for not doing so...

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I think it's about parents teaching their children critical thinking. Children who are taught to think critically, and to realize that what they see in media is for marketing purposes, they understand that what they see is the ideal, not reality. in the same way when they are learning science and math, they don't have to be as smart as stephen hawking to be a scientist or mathematician.

It's not society's job to cater to children. It is the parent's job. I am an adult, and i shouldn't have to be thinking about what YOUR child might see when i post on the internet. That's YOUR job as a parent. not mine.

..yeah, it is very much the parent's job..and the school's job...and there's influences from peers/friendship groups etc..it's a joint thing, constantly, otherwise it'll be hard for it to work with that responsibility just coming from one direction...

[lostalex]

My parents didn't let me watch The Simpsons. I watched it every time i went over to my friends house. he taped it for me. You know what though? it made me think about why did they didn't let me watch it. It forced me to think about it. So even if they still see it, at least they have to think about it.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..yeah, there might be some of that contributing but I honestly don't think that can be completely blamed because parents aren't the only influence on their children, they get to an age when peer opinions become more valid to them and a parent can help with that, I agree if they see the 'wrongs' but they don't always know straight away though...I know of perfectly good parents who don't allow their children to watch any 'trash' TV/read magazines etc...and their children are still exposed to things in a playground/friendship situation...it's really hard for a parent to see everything all the time...and hard for them they are often 'judged' for not doing so...

I agree 100%, we cant lay blame at every parent but some don't help!, but they themselves are just part of the image fed machine.

image is worth so much money ,with fashion make up diets and products that claim to make you look better, that I cant see any major change in the way young girls get influenced in the future.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I think it's about parents teaching their children critical thinking. Children who are taught to think critically, and to realize that what they see in media is for marketing purposes, they understand that what they see is the ideal, not reality. in the same way when they are learning science and math, they don't have to be as smart as stephen hawking to be a scientist or mathematician.

It's not society's job to cater to children. It is the parent's job. I am an adult, and i shouldn't have to be thinking about what YOUR child might see when i post on the internet. That's YOUR job as a parent. not mine.

don't get all defensive!, no one has said its your job to worry about what other peoples children see on the internet, but on the other hand you should be thinking who else might see my post's and what affect it may have on them, that's your duty as an adult.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by lostalex

My parents didn't let me watch The Simpsons. I watched it every time i went over to my friends house. he taped it for me. You know what though? it made me think about why did they didn't let me watch it. It forced me to think about it. So even if they still see it, at least they have to think about it.

...yeah, but the thing with that is that your parents had reasons for feeling it was wrong to expose you of something/..and you did it anyway, without their knowledge and I'm sure they were great and conscientious parents..and the influence on every child of certain 'exposures' will be different..I'm not talking about The Simpsons, but this trend in the article and what those young girls are exposing themselves to....

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

I agree 100%, we cant lay blame at every parent but some don't help!, but they themselves are just part of the image fed machine.

image is worth so much money ,with fashion make up diets and products that claim to make you look better, that I cant see any major change in the way young girls get influenced in the future.

...I do think though that focus has always been on 'image', from as far back as I remember, it's just that we have the internet now....

[lostalex]

i think, to stay on topic, it is the parents job to tell their kids that their appearance is not important, because you can't change it.

Why do young girls feel that their appearance is so important? It's not TV or the Internet's job to teach young girls what is important. If a young girl is so concerned with her appearance, that is because of poor parenting.

If i had a daughter she wouldn't be worried about what she looked like when she is 10 years old, she'd be too busy with many other things.

[lostalex]

when i hear about parents that buy their daughter boob jobs or nose jobs for their sweet 16 present, it pisses me off. that is bad parenting.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...yeah, but the thing with that is that your parents had reasons for feeling it was wrong to expose you of something/..and you did it anyway, without their knowledge and I'm sure they were great and conscientious parents..and the influence on every child of certain 'exposures' will be different..I'm not talking about The Simpsons, but this trend in the article and what those young girls are exposing themselves to....



...I do think though that focus has always been on 'image', from as far back as I remember, it's just that we have the internet now....

I must point to the lady on your page, she had an image that women wanted to emulate.