The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation that has a positive health affect.
It has long been believed that exposure to sunlight allows the body to generate Vitamin D3, which in turn can strengthen bones, promote cell growth, neuromuscular and immune functions, and reduction of inflammation.
While people can consume Vitamin D by ingesting it from diet and supplements, the major natural source of Vitamin D is from the synthesis of cholecalciferol in the lower layers of epidermis of the skin through a chemical reaction that is dependent on sun exposure.
Sunbathing also has other benefits, which include an increase in endorphin levels, and reduce the risks of seasonal affective disorder, among others.
In short, sunlight exposure can improve wellness.
But too much Sun can be harmful.
Blistering, swelling, rash and peeling skin are some of the common symptoms of sunburn.
After Australian doctors raised the alarm over the #sunburnchallenge trend on TikTok, the popular social media platform announced that is discouraging users from getting too much tan.
It all began back in September, when Melanoma Institute Australia co-medical directors Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, raised their concerns following the popular hashtag while speaking at the National Press Club.
Speaking alongside Olympian and melanoma survivor Cate Campbell, Professor Long warned social media influencers were glamorizing tanning with hashtags like “sunburnt tanlines”, which have garnered hundreds of millions of views.
She asked platforms, television stations and influencers to "change the cultural narrative around sunburn and tanning."
She raised her concern because Australia has one of the highest skin cancer incidences and mortality in the world.
Following the medical experts’ concerns, TikTok Australia has announced the permanent ban of the #sunburnchallenge hashtag, encouraged users to post videos of their most painful, blistering sunburns, "awkward tan-lines" and the peeling of their skin for dramatic effect, with tips on reducing the severity of a burn.
Read: 'Perineum Sunning' On TikTok, Where People Point Their Bare Buttocks To The Sky
"We’ll actively promote the creator content related to the campaign, which means everyone aged between 20 and 39 will see the message. And everyone who searches for a hashtag related to summer sun, tanning and many other summertime phrases will see the […] banner and will be provided with information that outlines the dangers of tanning," said Lee Hunter, General Manager, TikTok Australia and New Zealand.
Furthermore, the app has also announced a widespread education campaign that will impose a pop-up banner saying, "Tanning. That’s Cooked." on all searches related to summer, sun, tanning and sunburn.
Melanoma is one of the most common form of cancers in Australia, accounting for more than 1,000 deaths a year.
Cancer Australia estimates that melanoma is the third most common cancer nationwide behind prostate cancer and breast cancer.
With TikTok having 32% of its users aged between 16 and 24, the Melanoma Institute Australia chief executive, Matthew Browne, said it had been lobbying the social media platform for months to curb concerning content on its platform, which could influence those young and susceptible social media users.
"Our medical directors put out a plea about the urgent need to stop the glamorization of tanning, to save young lives, and we are delighted TikTok answered that call," Browne said.
"One Aussie is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes and it claims more lives than the national road toll. Tanning is actually skin cells in trauma. There is no safe way of sun tanning, including the concept of getting a protective ‘base tan’ at the start of summer."
TikTok has faced backlash in the past over a number viral challenges.
Among the many, include the extremely dangerous blackout challenge, where users to choked themselves until they passed out; the dry scooping challenge, which involves participants in eating protein powder supplement by putting it into one’s mouth instead of diluting it with water first; and the sleepy chicken challenge, which involves cooking chicken braised in cold and flu medicine.