A challenge is once again sweeping the internet.

Women are nominating women to share black and white photos with the tag #ChallengeAccepted and #WomenSupportingWomen.

But what’s the point? And how did it start?

The posts read like an act for feminism, but between the lines, they seem trivial, a weak attempt to support feminism and a strong excuse to post a pretty snap and rightly so, the internet is scratching its head.

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The origin of the challenge, however, is very different. First used in 2016 for cancer awareness, more recently in Turkey, to raise awareness of sex-based killings and growing legs in the states after US Representative and all-round female boss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fought back against sexist remarks made against her.

But the majority of posts don’t tell this story. The dim snaps make a noise about empowerment, but as one Dubai resident notes, “a hashtag is not activism” and posting an edited photo of yourself is not feminism.

The heartbreaking origins of the challenge were lost as the trend gained international attention and many of the posts shed no light on the tragic situation in Turkey

Many celebrities including Khloe Kardashian and Jenifer Garner shared pics, and although well-intended, it’s hard to see what positive result could come from this, apart from instant social media gratification, of course.

https://twitter.com/ccmantiza/status/1288313350468714501?s=20

“A hashtag is not activism”

For someone who has been working very hard the past many months to create a small pandemic “support” network for single women in Dubai – of all nationalities – as well as a career group… I have to say I don’t believe in this kind of hashtag activism. I believe in “actions”.

— Nicola Ellegaard 𓅃 (@banafsaji) July 29, 2020

While some have been quick to jump on the bandwagon, others have been asking,’ what’s the point?’

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDLt2G9JzpG/

Confused? You’re not alone. Anna’s post above was greeted with nods of approval from many

With the true intentions of the challenge effectively lost, people are understandably confused

https://twitter.com/IAmMrBrightside/status/1288354877278752769?s=20

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