05/04/2026
You may not be familiar with these terms yet - but chances are that your teen (and likely older tween) is. If you have a son and he’s on social media they definitely know about this content. But it’s important to understand if you have girls as well!
Some research shows that within a few minutes of being on certain platforms teen boys are inundated with this type of content, even when they’re not looking for it.
And it’s incredibly dangerous! Not only are the types of posts damaging to self esteem, they are also full of misogyny, racism, and antisemitic content. Some of the most well-known influencers are suggesting teens take unhealthy supplements, micro-dose illegal substances, and engage in dangerous behavior such as damaging the bones in their face in order to (positively?!) alter their appearance.
It’s no joke! In order to be able to talk to your kids about this stuff, you have to understand it yourself. This glossary of terms is just the tip of the iceberg.
