In China, young women are using stickers to relocate their belly button to give the illusion of a tall, slender figure. Photo: AFP
If, when scrolling social media, you happen to stumble upon a disconcertingly large belly button, then don't be alarmed.
It's probably part of a new craze among a handful of (mainly female) social network users, who have decided to relocate this relic of life in the womb in order to elongate their figure, and thus appear slimmer.
It's yet another "trend" that bears witness to the tenacity of many appearance-related ideals.
Followers of the trend can get around 30 fake belly buttons for the equivalent of €0.50 (approximately RM2.50) on Pinduoduo, one of China's largest e-commerce platforms.
An offer that seems to appeal to thousands of regular users of the Douyin and Xiaohongshu social networks, as recently reported by the South China Morning Post.
Originating in China, this phenomenon is starting to spread on social platforms like TikTok, showing that ideals surrounding body image are still very much a part of women's daily lives, all over the world.
Read more: Should beauty filters be banned? Studies highlight self-esteem concerns
Sticking on a fake belly button
Like a host of beauty tips and trends spotted on social networks, this craze for fake belly buttons may seem laughable.
Videos posted under the dedicated hashtag, whether on Douyin or Xiaohongshu – two of China's most popular social platforms – show young women cutting out and then sticking on what look like temporary tattoos in the shape of a navel, a few centimetres above the real orifice.
The latter is concealed by pants, a skirt or shorts, while the fake navel is highlighted by a crop top. For those involved, the purpose of this ploy is simple: to create an optical illusion.
Fans of the trick claim that a belly button raised by around 10 centimetres will allow a skirt or pair of pants to be pulled up by the same amount, subsequently lengthening legs and slimming the silhouette.
Or at least giving the illusion of doing so.
On Xiaohongshu, videos are accompanied by captions extolling the virtues of the trick.
"It's not a fake belly button patch, it's a tool to lengthen short legs!" one user posted with their video.
"Every beauty has two belly buttons! Here's the secret to lengthening your legs!" says another user.
In addition to applying the temporary tattoo, some women also apply makeup around the area to ensure a more harmonious effect.
Read more: Including everyone: Swimwear is being reinvented to flatter all body types
Social pressure to get the 'perfect body'
Unlike the dangers of fake injectors, linked to a boom in Botox among the younger generation, this craze for fake belly buttons poses no risk to physical health.
It does, however, raise questions about the persistence of certain body image ideals, such as equating long legs with a standard of beauty to be attained, whether through a simple sticker, clothing or, in the most extreme case, surgery.
And it's just one example among many.
Fake freckles, fake breasts, fake buttocks and even fake noses are just some of the "tools" that abound on today's social networks, when it's not a question of makeup tricks designed to refine or smooth this or that part of the face, again reflecting a desire to attain a certain beauty standard.
Ultimately, these temporary tattoos are akin to the social media filters that are the subject of much debate.
As well as proving a source of stress and anxiety for young people, they can also contribute to body dysmorphic disorder, the tendency to obsess over an imaginary flaw.
A phenomenon that, in turn, increases stress and anxiety, and impacts self-esteem.
"I wonder how these women can still face their true body figures after removing the fake belly button stickers, breast pads, buttock pads, and other enhancements," observed one internet user, quoted by the South China Morning Post.
Numerous studies have suggested that social networks, through their filters and editing apps, can have a negative impact on the mental health of users, particularly the very young.
It's a fact that worries parents the world over, to the point that some would now like to see beauty filters subject to an age limit, or even banned altogether.
Despite the emergence of numerous movements in favour of the acceptance and appreciation of all body types, the ideals linked to appearance and to the "perfect body" – if that exists at all – die hard, demonstrating the need for action to limit associated risks and dangers.
In fact, a recent study found that it wasn't the "perfect body" but self-acceptance that contributed to greater life satisfaction. – AFP Relaxnews
