A 'deeply concerning' new trend called 'yacht shoulders' has emerged on TikTok, and experts are warning over how 'incredibly damaging' it really is.
*Takes a deep breath* It feels like two steps forward, one step back, doesn't it?
At this point, batting away 'body trends' online has become a real-life game of wack-a-mole, and in the past month yet another has seemingly emerged - 'yacht shoulders'.
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The so-called trend appears to have stemmed from Kylie and Kendall Jenner's trip to Mallorca last month.
Within days of images of the pair soaking up the sun on their luxury yacht emerging, workout routines began popping up on how to achieve 'yacht shoulders', which the famous sisters supposedly don.
What are 'yacht shoulders'?
The trend refers to shoulders of a very slim, toned build, usually with the bone being visible to some degree.
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Several videos have already surfaced of people claiming to have 'yacht shoulders' themselves as well as supposed workouts touted to help people achieve the look.
It's all just one thread making up a worrying tapestry of reducing women's bodies to fleeting trends.
After all, just a few years ago the likes of BBLs (Brazilian Butt Lifts) were all the rage.
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And if the comments on these videos are anything to go by, people are well and truly sick of it.
"It’s 2024 why are we still using bodies as trends," commented one user on a workout video.
"i’m abt to post a rant about this because this is actually so detrimental," added another, while a third chimed in: "Yacht shoulders ? Omg free yourself babes."
And a fourth simply put: "Enough is enough".
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What are the experts saying about 'yacht shoulders'?
Psychologist Dr Sarah Bishop told Tyla that the trend is 'deeply concerning' and has 'troubling implications' which can include contributing to the likes of body dysmorphia, eating disorders and self-esteem issues.
"The emergence of harmful trends like 'legging legs', 'Heroin Chic', and new terms like 'yacht shoulders' can be incredibly damaging," she added.
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"These trends reinforce unrealistic and often unattainable body standards. Consuming and aiming for such fleeting body trends is a significant waste of time.
"Chasing these trends often leads to a cycle of dissatisfaction and self-criticism, preventing individuals from appreciating their unique qualities and achieving genuine self-acceptance."
Meanwhile, personal trainer and women's health and mindset coach Chloe Thomas told Tyla she was 'very upset' when she hard about the term.
"Having been someone who has been through an eating disorder myself and had names called at me when I was very skinny, it makes me sad that women are still being picked on and described like this."
She continued: "I personally believe that a lot of this [bodies becoming trends] comes from the beauty industry and beauty standards and even diet culture, because playing on women’s insecurities is a great way to sell products to solve those ‘issues’.
"Unfortunately, our culture is very looks focused still in the West and I do think this is very damaging to women. I think it’s also extremely damaging now because young teenagers have access to social media and are bombarded with these messages every single day."
How can you avoid buying into fads like 'yacht shoulders'?
Dr Bishop urges those who may get roped into such trends to try and form a healthier relationship with body image and social media, including:
- Critical awareness: Recognise that social media often presents an unrealistic portrayal of beauty and body standards. Images are frequently edited and curated then pushed towards us with increased frequency, which alters our perception to see the image as increasingly desirable the more we are exposed to it.
- Diversifying your fyp: Follow and engage with diverse accounts that promote body positivity and inclusivity. Exposure to a variety of body types can help mitigate the impact of harmful trends.
- Limiting screen time: Reduce time spent on social media to decrease exposure to potentially damaging content.
- Seeking support: If you find yourself struggling with body image issues, consider seeking support from a mental health professional.
- Practising self-compassion: Practice self-compassion and focus on body functionality and health rather than appearance, while emphasising personal strengths and qualities unrelated to physical appearance.
Sadly, 'yacht shoulders' is just the latest example of women's bodies being treated the same as the latest fashion fad or trending make-up product.
Back in January, TikTok removed the hashtag 'legging legs' after the 'disgusting trend' gained traction on the platform.
The term is used to refer to the notion that those who wear the tight-fitting bottoms should have long and slim legs without a trace of cellulite (which isn't even real, fyi) or hip dips.
TikTok has since removed #legginglegs from the platform and replaced with information about eating disorders or disordered eating.
A TikTok spokesperson told Tyla that it does not allow or promote content related to disordered eating or eating disorders on the platform and has a number of safety measures in place to prevent this and support users who may seek out this kind of content.
TikTok investigated the videos relating 'yacht shoulders' and found they did not violate community guidelines.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 365 days a year from 9am–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat
Topics: TikTok, Beauty, Life, Social Media, Health, Mental Health
Chloe Rowland