TikTok users are being warned to avoid the Silhouette Challenge

TikTok is a treasure trove for trends, hacks and lighthearted challenges. It's a very creative platform, but recently it has taken a scary turn: women have been taking part in the Silhouette Challenge, which was created to be empowering, but others have taken advantage of users.

Social media users are now warning women not to take part in the challenge, and if they do, to make sure they are wearing clothes. The videos feature a red light filter, which users are using to create and contrast a dark, sultry silhouette of their bodies. However, it seems these videos are being edited to reveal more details.

What’s even more terrifying is that BuzzFeed has found videos (opens in new tab) all over YouTube, Twitter and TikTok itself giving instructions on how to remove the filters and silhouette effects with editing programs. Several women's videos are being used in these instructions and more are now being warned to not do the challenge nude. 

@lostvsnryshots (opens in new tab)

PSA TO ALL THE QUEENS ✨ ##silhouettechallenge ##silhouette ##PSA ##queensupportqueens ##tiktoktrends ##photography ##photoshoot ##phototricks

♬ Put Your Head On My Shoulder - Giulia Di Nicolantonio (opens in new tab)

One TikToker posted a warning, saying to be wary of what you are wearing in a video before you edit it because “anyone can easily take those images and revert them back to the original.” 

People have taken to Twitter to post their anger at what was supposed to be a body-positive, empowering challenge being ruined by predators. One user wrote: “Warning to anyone doing the #silhouettechallenge: please don't do the challenge nude because the videos are really easy to edit.”

Another said: “WARNING: anybody that’s doing this silhouette challenge, men are editing the photo/video to see the original so if you’re naked they will see it... please be careful.”

Thankfully, some of the users on Twitter and Reddit that have been sharing the effects-removing instructions have already been banned, but many people are still at risk of having nude photos of themselves shared over the internet. Stay vigilant, people!