Am I Ugly?

This is the title of a new trend in the social world. Pre-teen girls have taken to uploading videos of themselves with the purpose of getting one question answered: Am I ugly? Most of the hype is taking place on YouTube, the social scene that’s probably most notorious for bullying. These girls are seeing the good, the bad, and everything in between with comments ranging from “You are a beautiful girl. Do not let anyone tell you different.” to “Yes, you are. Now go kill yourself.”

Video from the "Am I Ugly" trend on YouTube.

It’s not fair to say these societal pressures didn’t exist twenty years ago. Twenty years ago, girls were still looking at fashion magazines and feeling a sense of inadequacy. But the question “Am I ugly?” was directed internally. In figuring out who they are and defining themselves, pre-teens often look to their peers for approval. So it makes sense that with the development of social networks, young girls would turn to their social networks for approval. And they listen to anyone who answers them.

I won’t say the old cliché “beauty comes from within.” Psychical beauty is a highly subjective idea. But I will say that I believe the beauty that matters more is internal beauty. And asking a sea of strangers whether you’re beautiful will subject you to a needless strain of criticism from people you don’t know—and consequently, a low self-esteem.  

This trend is unnerving, but I see no quick solution. Should YouTube remove the videos? Should YouTube hold its users accountable for cyber bullying?

Society isn’t kind to pre-teen girls. I think it’s up to the older sisters, the mothers and fathers, and the true friends of the world to help these young girls see their potential. Do you see another solution?