., click here to update your profile and earn points towards a Starbucks gift card

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Silhouette Challenge: What Parents Need to Know

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

Become a member or login to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
February 8, 2021

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Silhouette Challenge: What Parents Need to Know

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders
., now is your chance to earn 10 points towards a $5 Starbucks gift card by telling us what you learned in this resource!
To earn your gift card, please be specific and write a full sentence that helps us learn what you liked about the topic. Our non-profit uses this information to improve our program.

40 characters remaining to reach minimum

Your submission has been received! You now have additional points added to your account.

If you are in a live event, please comment "I filled out the form!" in the live event chat box!

Otherwise you are free to roam around the site.
Thanks!
-Josh and The SmartSocial Team
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

What is the Silhouette Challenge?

  • Users record a video of themselves, often dancing, with a TikTok red filter applied that makes them look like a dark silhouette
  • The challenge started as a way to promote positive body image

Silhouette Challenge warnings in the news

"TikTok 'Silhouette Challenge' Warnings Issues as Red Light Fliter Removal Videos Abound" headline from Newsweek
After some internet users discovered a method to edit the filter into revealing women’s bodies, brightened versions of the videos were soon shared online. Tutorials on ‘removing the red filter’ have appeared on YouTube, garnering thousands of views.

Newsweek

"Security warning out for TikTok users baring all in silhouette challenge" headline from Eyewitness News ABC 13
This counter-trend has perverted the intentions of the challenge, leading some influencers to warn people against participating in the challenge.

ABC 13 News

Why should parents care about the Silhouette Challenge?

  • If students are filming their silhouette challenge videos partially naked or nude, their images are not completely safe and other users can see the original video

What can parents do about the Silhouette Challenge?

  • Talk with your student about positive body image and appropriate clothing for public viewing, regardless of what they think others can see
  • Ask your student if they have participated in the silhouette challenge and if they have, ask them what they were wearing behind the filter
  • Discuss the loss of control over your images and videos when posting them to any social media site
  • Enroll in the SmartSocial VIP (Very Informed Parent) program to learn more about TikTok and more ways to talk with your student about shining online

Conclusion

Social media challenges often have "hidden" dangers students do not know about from watching short clips of others participating. Parents and students can work together to determine the potential side-effects or dangers before participating in a social media challenge, like the Silhouette Challenge.

School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events (and earn a $5 Starbucks gift card)*

Jan
14
Register
Register for this event

Shine Online: Help Your Child Build a Positive Online Footprint (Live Session #1)

Earn a $5 Starbucks gift card and learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

Jan
16
Register
Register for this event

Protecting Your Family With A Social Media Agreement (Bonus Live Event)

Earn a $5 Starbucks gift card and learn how to set up a Family Media Agreement for your entire family in order to keep your family safer with technology and social media.

Jan
21
Register
Register for this event

Shine Online: Help Your Child Build a Positive Online Footprint (Live Session #2)

Earn a $5 Starbucks gift card and learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

Jan
23
Register
Register for this event

Combat Online Bullying: Supporting Positive Student Behaviors on Campus and At Home (Bonus Live Event)

Earn a $5 Starbucks gift card and learn how to combat online bullying and keep your kids safe online

Jan
28
Register
Register for this event

Shine Online: Help Your Child Build a Positive Online Footprint (Live Session #3)

Earn a $5 Starbucks gift card and learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

*Only for families in partner school districts or individual paid VIP members: to receive a gift card, simply attend the live event, join in the activities, and your family will be eligible to earn one gift card per year (while supplies last).

Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.

Dotted arrow to right
Learn about our
"Very Informed Parent" 
VIP Program
Right arrow
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz

This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is

Take Josh's 1 Min Quiz
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo

Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online

Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Partner with SmartSocial.com
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on: