Lately, people have started to discover the community that has taken over Pinterest: girlblogging. The concept has existed for years, but only recently have non-members of this subculture taken notice and begun to call out these girlbloggers for toxicity and romanticizing abuse. There’s no doubt some have spread concerning messages, but the real question is: should the entire subgroup be cancelled in the eyes of social media for a few bad eggs?

So what even is girlblogging?

Urban Dictionary defines a girlblogger as “hot, intelligent, and probably mentally ill…” A lot of things common in girlblogging include 90s’ Kate Moss, Lana Del Rey, and Cigarettes After Sex. She might even be what the internet calls a “thought daughter”. They love Pinterest, fashion, and all things feminine and girly. 

Although the actual term “girlblogging” is relatively new, the aesthetic isn’t. The idea of girlblogging came from 2000s media such as Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada, and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, to name a few. All of these films and TV shows generally have an admirable, interesting, independent woman working at a fashion magazine or writing a personal, girly blog. With the resurgence of 2000s trends, the love for journalism has reappeared as well. Combined with the popularity of girly aesthetics, this gave birth to the idea of girlblogging, which has been a staple in the coquette community ever since. 

A few things people against girlblogging have named include glorifying eating disorders, glamorizing abusive relationships such as Lolita, and idolizing problematic women and painting them as “icons”. While these things are no doubt present, they aren’t only available in girlblogging. Other culturally significant forms of media that were controversial for these reasons were the 2006 book series Pretty Little Liars and 2010 TV show of the same name, along with the 2019 TV show Euphoria. Despite their sensitive subject matter, many fans claimed that they were spreading awareness.

Girlblogging, though, is not just spreading awareness. Unlike television dramas, which exist in a fictional narrative, girlblogging promotes these ideas with pretty fonts on aesthetic backgrounds. While some posts are supportive and talk about bringing other girls and their self-esteem up, some talk about the “benefits” of bullying, fat-shaming others, and support racism and xenophobia. 

So at the root of it all, is girlblogging toxic or chic?

Like any online community, girlblogging has its darker corners. Harmful content deserves criticism, but reducing an entire subculture to its worst examples ignores the thousands of creators simply celebrating fashion, writing, art, and femininity. At the end of the day, girlblogging, in my opinion, is not toxic or chic; it’s just something girls love to do.