TikTok isn’t just for memes anymore.
A teen TikToker’s video highlighting domestic abuse has ignited a raging debate on what content is appropriate for the video-sharing platform.
Amber, 16, became known on TikTok for her quirky makeup tutorials. However, she turned her beautician skills to domestic violence awareness with a shocking new video last month where she lip-syncs “Not Fair” by Lily Allen while faux bruises appear on her face.
Each time she belts out a boyfriend-lauding lyric — for example, “he treats me with respect” — the screen wipes to reveal progressively larger mock injuries supposedly inflicted by her abusive beau. The lyrics are reminiscent of what some victims might say about their partners, she suggests in her caption.
Amber, who didn’t give her last name, told the BBC that the video was inspired by a family friend who had suffered domestic violence.
Amber’s moving PSA struck a chord on TikTok, racking up over 1.7 million views, 200,000 likes and heaps of praise from abuse survivors.
“Thank you for doing this, I’m a survivor managed to get away 2017,” said one of the jarring juxtaposition video.
“Well this brought some unwanted memories back,” echoed another. “It really opened my eyes to this song in a new light. This is so powerful.”
However, others wondered if the piece was too dark for a platform primarily populated by light-hearted lip-sync clips, wacky skits and viral memes.
“This … is not the right way to raise awareness,” said one critic. “This could really trigger,” added another.
One naysayer snarked that domestic violence “really does happen to people and they don’t make TikToks about it.”
However, Amber maintains that the clip isn’t a publicity stunt. “It has a good message and was not created to gain popularity for myself,” Amber told BBC. The TikTok influencer added that the piece “wasn’t meant to bring back memories for survivors.”
Amber isn’t the first big name to shed light on domestic abuse via social media. This past November, “Supergirl” star Melissa Benoist revealed she was a domestic violence survivor in a heartbreaking Instagram video.
