The earring debate blowing up the internet

The image Chelsea Smith shared on Twitter following her revelation. Photo / Twitter.com via Chelsea__Smithh

A debate over the correct way to wear earrings is raging on social media after a girl tweeted that you should remove the plastic backing from ear studs before they are worn.

Chelsea Smith wrote: "After my 19 years of living, I have now realised you're supposed to take the plastic part off."

The tweet has been retweeted over 44,000 times and favourited another 43,000 times. A similar Facebook repost has attracted more than 71,500 likes and 10,000 of those users weighing in on the discussion, including a huge number of women insisting that you are meant to keep the plastic on to protect your ears.

Others expressed shock about the revelation with one woman in disbelief that she had been walking around with "plastic things" on her ears for years.

After finding out the news, another wrote: "My whole life has been a joke."

While a surprised woman wrote: "Holy c**p, I did not know this."

And even a jewellery shop worker voiced confusion over the post.

Ej Bonifacio wrote: "I worked at a jewellery store for three years and my brain just exploded."

But a counter-argument is gathering pace as many comments suggest you should be keeping the backing on.

One of the most popular comments with over 3,000 likes said the plastic provides a purpose.

One woman said: "It keeps heavier or larger earrings in place so that they don't hang down on your ear."

Another said the plastic prevents the piercing from stretching too much and can stop you from having saggy lobes later in life.

Colleen Lyons wrote: "It's for people whose ear piercings have stretched with age."

Another chimed in saying: "They hold your earring in place so they don't look like they're drooping."

But some people have now decided to take the plastic off following on from the Facebook debate.

Carolin Koch wrote: "The moment when you realise your ears are stretched and you don't care about the plastic."

Claiming she knew along, another said: "Everyone knows to take the plastic off, I feel smart for once."

- Daily Mail