Why Teens Need to Stop the #KylieJennerChallenge
Teens are pulling a dangerous move to get Kylie Jenner’s pillowy lips, and parents need to know about it. (Photo: Splash News)
Love them or hate them, the Kardashians have sparked a lot of silly trends over the years. But this latest social media fad, fueled by the pillowy lips of 17-year-old Kylie Jenner, is pretty disturbing — and potentially dangerous.
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On Sunday night, the Twitter hashtag #KylieJennerChallenge popped up. There and elsewhere on social media, teens have been posting selfies after attempting a simple DIY trick to score a plump pout like Kylie’s: They put their lips in a small glass, then inhale as deeply as possible.
She took the challenge … and ouch.
The result is a temporarily swollen pucker, the kind Kylie says she sports with the help of makeup. But as this photo shows, some teens who gave the challenge a try also racked up physical damage. Numbness, bruising, tearing, and scarring are all potential side effects, due to the friction created when air is sucked out of the glass.
This Kardashian-inspired trend is still in full swing. Because of the dangers, it’s something parents need to help put the brakes on ASAP. “You can’t lock up all the glasses in the house, but you can start a conversation that gets them thinking about whether it’s really a good idea to follow a trend just because it’s hugely popular on social media,” Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do tells Yahoo Parenting.
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Ask them about the challenge and if friends of theirs are taking it. “If they say yes, or they tell you they think it looks like harmless fun, tell them about the possible side effects, then ask if it’s worth the risk,” says Morin.
Rather than scolding teens or warning them of something they haven’t even done yet (which might make them want to do it even more), encourage them to think critically about why it’s better not to follow the crowd. It’s a lesson that applies to every peer pressure–inspired situation, adds Morin.
And if they still insist they want to try it themselves, let them know that if it backfires and the end up with damage to their lips, they won’t be able to hide at home until it heals. “If they do the glass trick and rack up damage, they’ve got to deal with the consequences,” she adds.
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