A lot of people on TikTok have changed their profile picures to purple PFPs this week. It's all because of a women's rights movement trying to raise awareness for gender-based violence and femicide.

The Purple PFP trend started at the end of last month, but has gained major traction this November. Purple-toned selfies on TikTok have become so pervasive that now, some men have decided to change their images to green in a countermovement. Thus, purple and green PFPs are now at odds with each other.

But where did the "Purple PFPs TikTok trend" come from? What's the significance, and how has it spread? Let's explain.

What Does A 'Purple PFP' Mean On TikTok?

When someone has a purple-colored profile picture (PFP) on TikTok, it means they're showing solidarity with women who have suffered from gender-based violence or have taken their lives in an act of "femicide."

Changing your PFP to purple is a way to spread awareness of the sadly widespread phenomenon of male-on-female abuse. So many people on TikTok believe in spreading awareness on the topic, explaining why so many have hopped onto this Purple PFP trend.

@umwhoisthis8 #purplepfps #womenforchange #purple #fyp ♬ original sound – salem🏹(son of cain)

Who Started The 'Purple PFP' Trend?

The Purple PFP trend didn't just come out of nowhere. It was started by a South African activist group called Women for Change, as part of their upcoming G20 Women's Shutdown on November 21st, 2025.

The shutdown's goal, according to the group's website, is for all women and members of the LGBTQ+ community across South Africa to "refrain from all paid and unpaid work in workplaces, universities and homes, and to spend no money for the entire day to demonstrate the economic and social impact of their absence."

The timing of the shutdown corresponds with the 2025 G20 Summit that's occurring in South Africa later this month. The group hopes that if all women in the country refrain from participating in the economy that day, the country's leaders will take their issues seriously and declare gender-based violence and femicide a "national disaster."

@womenforchange.sa G20 Women’s Shutdown 📢 On Friday, 21 November, South African women will silence the nation. We call on all women and members of the LGBTQI+ community across South Africa to refrain from all paid and unpaid work in workplaces, universities, and homes, and to spend NO money for the entire day to demonstrate the economic and social impact of their absence. 👩‍🏭 Don’t work. No paid or unpaid labour. 💶 Don’t spend money and withdraw from the economy for one day. ⏰️ Join the 15-Minute Standstill by lying down for 15 minutes at 12 pm to honour the 15 women murdered every day and bring South Africa to a complete standstill. 🖤 Wear black to stand in mourning and resistance. 💜 Change your profile picture to purple to make the Shutdown visible online. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏿 Share. Share. Share. Make the Shutdown impossible to ignore. Talk about it, share our posters using #WomenShutdown #WomenForChange #unburythetruth #g20 #gbvsouthafrica ♬ original sound – Franklin Saint

Why Is Everyone's PFP Purple?

The Purple PFP trend quickly spread outside of South Africa. The larger internet has co-opted the trend, making its original context more obscure.

Some viral videos that have notably spread the trend, like one from TikToker @aestheticxv1bes with over 1.6 million likes as of writing, don't explicitly reference Women for Change.

The vagueness of some of the Purple PFP videos has led to some criticism online, such as when TikToker @divinecherubium called it "performative activism" in a viral post.

@divinecherubium This video is aimed at people using this as an excuse to trend hop, like they did with BLM Palestine and Ukraine. If this doesn’t apply to you then you should not be offended by my statement #sa #southafrica #fyp #foryoupage❤️❤️ #purplepfp ♬ suono originale – random.acc

What Does A 'Green PFP' Mean On TikTok?

Some men on TikTok have launched their own counter-movement on the app, known as the "Green PFP" trend. Basically, instead of raising awareness about women's issues, certain men are changing their profile pics to green images to raise awareness of the opposite, male gender-based violence and "malicide."

It was started by a TikToker named @yosime3 this past week. Many on the app have called him "tone-deaf" and "corny" for what they see as trying to take the spotlight away from the original issue.

"Immediately blocking every green PFP I see because you're weird and I'm not elaborating," TikToker @trxllzach wrote on the topic.

@trxllzach you’re not a victim bro 😭 #fyp #viral #foryou #purplepfp #greenpfp ♬ original sound – avdloss

How To Make Pictures Purple

Making a Purple PFP is easy if you want to join the trend. Some, like TikToker @katsaresuperkoolright, have shown that it can be done simply in the TikTok app.

First, add your photo in a photo slideshow and then add a text layer. Type in anything and then choose to give the text a highlighted background color. Choose purple, of course, and then enlarge the text so that the purple highlight covers your photo.

From there, just screenshot it or save it to your camera roll. You can add your new PFP in your profile settings after that.

@katsaresuperkoolright Thought I could help by doing a tutorial 💜 #fyp #womenforchange #arianagrande #boost #tutorial ♬ we can't be friends (wait for your love) – string version – Ariana Grande

What Are Some More 'Purple PFP' Videos And Memes?

@nievekane sending all my love to the woman of south africa 💜 #womanforchange #womanofsouthafrica #awareness #foryoupage #purplepfp ♬ LABOUR – the cacophony – Paris Paloma

@lyvelipink WOMAN FOR CHANGE! 💜💜💜#purple #woman #change #votepurple💜 #pfp ♬ original sound – LadyLyvel

@8oclock.lol I support them but the pfps do nothing to help. U can not support and have the pfp 🫩 #fyp #viral #giftok #plsdontflop #purplepfp ♬ mine – user23977528176

@vinnie_rt_ So uneducated 😪✌️ #sudan #pfp #purple #fyp #change ♬ original sound – h

@ichangedmyusernameufwit Stream “semiklipp” #jugg #juggtok #undergroundrap #undergroundartist #semiklipp ♬ blue hoodie – semiklipp

@thebookofmalachii #purple #womenshealth #woman #fyp #awareness ♬ оригинальный звук – Hip Hop Legends 90’s

@fbss.a #purple #women #domesticabuseawareness #southafrica #sudan ♬ оригинальный звук – Hip Hop Legends 90’s

@xanny.bills10 like yesss queen you get it #purple #pfp #purplepfp #important #women ♬ CHIHIRO – romina

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For the full history of Purple PFPs, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.