Body positive influencer slams TikTok trend that presents staged images as ‘candid’ for harming young people – and reveals parents ask her how to ‘save their daughters’ from online pressure
A body positivity influencer has revealed how parents ask her how to ‘save’ their daughters from toxic beauty standards pushed on social media, as she slammed tech companies for doing ‘the bare minimum’ to tackle the issues.
Danae Mercer, 36, originally from California but recently based in Dubai and Italy, went viral for sharing realistic, unedited before and after photos that show how lighting, angles and whether or not you’ve eaten can affect on how slim and toned you look.
And in a recent interview with The timesshe fell for content that makes impressionable teens feel bad about themselves.
“I don’t think TikTok feels pressure at all,” she added.
In particular, Danae pointed out the dangers of “hyper-unposed casual” shots, which, despite being carefully calculated and perhaps even edited, make it seem as if the unrealistic beauty standard put forward was merely a casual, candid shot captured in the moment.
A body positivity influencer has revealed how parents ask her how to ‘save’ their daughters from toxic beauty standards pushed on social media, as she slammed tech companies for doing ‘the bare minimum’ to tackle the issues
“The more traditionally beautiful, the more perfectly posed, it will attract attention,” the social media star added.
‘People look longer; they watch more. Maybe they feel worse about themselves, so they keep scrolling.”
The outlet added that TikTok had no comment, but emphasized that its community guidelines say “in-app tips on how to identify negative self-talk” are available if a user looks up the word “anorexia” or something similar. MailOnline has also contacted TikTok and Meta for comment.
In a recent one after Last month, Danae – who has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram – wrote an inspiring message for her viewers.
“What does it mean to ‘look like you’re working out’?” she asked. ‘When I was a teenager, this meant no butt and no body fat.
‘When I was in my twenties it meant curves, all curves, but really just curves on your hips and thighs and as small a waist as possible, please.
‘Girls went to the gym to look like Insta-baddies. Now it’s changing again: apparently ‘thin’ is in and Pilates is trending.
‘So what does it actually mean?… I wanted to remind you that you? Your health? That’s so much more nuanced than a single photo could ever say.’
Danae Mercer, 36, (pictured), originally from California but recently based in Dubai and Italy, went viral for sharing realistic, unedited before and after photos
Elsewhere in June, Danae revealed the poses influencers swear by to look perfect on Instagram while snapping photos at the beach and pool.
In a videoshe revealed the way influencers take photos to make themselves look slimmer at the waist, while ensuring their enviable curves still pop.
For the first pose, Danae recommends hanging her head over the edge of the pool while arching her back, extending her arms and crossing her thigh.
“Summer of secrets – or just another reason not to compare yourself to what you see here,” she wrote.
‘I love Pinterest. But my feed is FULL of shots like this. So I thought I’d recreate some of them for you and explain how they come to be.”
She explained, “I dangle my head OVER the edge of the pool (?!), which allows me to super arch my back. I have my top knee bent over my other leg, which creates an S-curve in my body and makes my stomach look perky.
“Besides, I’m bending and squeezing.”
She then shared a photo of her relaxing by the pool, looking decidedly more natural.
Danae’s posts show how lighting, angles and whether or not you’ve eaten can affect how slim and toned you look
The influencer’s social media posts emphasize the importance of sharing realistic body standards online
The influencer showed a second pose, grabbed an empty coffee mug, gave herself a wedgie and sat on her toes.
‘I’m sitting on my toes with my back arched, my kiss facing the camera and an empty coffee mug in my hand. I have a wedgeh,” she wrote.
Finally she lay down on the sand and looked out over the sea.
‘This is so uncomfortable because I’m basically lying with my cheek in the sand. But it looks aesthetically pleasing. I bent my upper leg over my lower leg.
‘I oversee everything. My arms are above my head to stretch my body more. And I hold my breath.
‘Look, posing can be so much fun. I do it sometimes and love the art of it.
“But it’s also important not to COMPARE our REAL to their composite, pressed and posed highlight reel. You’re doing fine. Wiggles and wobbles and stuff.”
Danae has previously gone viral for inviting influencers, including an ‘instant BBL’ pose.