Chinese netizens are challenging the western Awkward Family Photo blog with some of their own, and it is a close call. A new trend on China’s most popular social media platform, Weibo, has users posting embarrassing and hilarious photos from their childhood for the world to see.

Awkward Childhood Photos
A new trend on Chinese social media has people sharing painfully embarrassing photos of themselves as children online. Weibo

Many of the photos that have gone viral are especially funny because of their distinctly Chinese flair; for example many of the children are decked out in full, ornate emperor or empress garb. Others, however, are just plain funny and bizarre.

The photo trend, tagged with a phrase that loosely translates to English as “showing off embarrassing photos from childhood”, has set Weibo alight, and even managed to get the attention of state-run news source Xinhua. Turns out growing up anywhere in the world was embarrassing.

Awkward Childhood Photos
A new trend on Chinese social media has people sharing painfully embarrassing photos of themselves as children online. Weibo
Awkward Childhood Photos
A new trend on Chinese social media has people sharing painfully embarrassing photos of themselves as children online. Weibo
Awkward Childhood Photos
A new trend on Chinese social media has people sharing painfully embarrassing photos of themselves as children online. Weibo
Awkward Childhood Photos
A new trend on Chinese social media has people sharing painfully embarrassing photos of themselves as children online. Weibo