It’s our final drop of the year! In this festively-timed Youth Updates we look at the trend that’s sweeping teen girls Christmas lists, how spirituality benefits mental wellbeing, our word of the month and how you should never call a young person out of the blue!
TRENDS: The Drunk Elephant Making All The Christmas Lists This Year
This year has seen a significant rise of skincare products on pre-teen and teen girl’s Christmas lists. Teens have been sharing GRWM (Get Ready With Me) videos featuring their skincare all year long, but it has become particularly noticeable that lots of Christmas lists featuring a hefty amount of facial creams, serums and lotions made by brands such as Drunk Elephant, The Ordinary and Bubble.
Whilst this seems like a fairly unremarkable thing, it’s worth bearing a few things in mind. Firstly, these lists are being made by those as young as 8 or 9. Secondly, a lot of skincare products are designed for older teen or adult skin and can actually damage rather than help young skin. Thirdly, it shows how much girls are picking up from influencers, social media and marketing about skincare and some of the products they are using are even designed to be anti-aging!
All of this raises conversations around influence, social pressures, and anxieties over appearance this Christmas season.
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY: Spirituality Benefits Mental Wellbeing, Research Says
Earlier this year, Gallup did a piece of research into the connection between faith and spirituality, and wellbeing. At a time when young people are struggling with mental health more than ever, this seems like an optimistic finding. (It’s important to note that the term ‘faith’ or ‘spirituality’ here is wider than just Christianity.)
The report found that being involved with something spiritual resulted in positive well-being outcomes such as increased optimism, hope and self-esteem, and coping better with adversity. Equally, it found that there were lower levels of depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and psychotic disorders alongside less substance abuse and less crime.
So many of these outcomes are those that we pray and hope for when it comes to the young people we know and those in our community. This report gives us a tangible back-up to the knowledge we have that Jesus can make a difference.
Find the research here: https://www.faithandmedia.com/research/gallup?utm_campaign=The%20Culture%20Translator&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=278154989&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_mPISwXsN9r1tsiVIj8jayoBvmehO51G0czNrdhOgWdL1TFI8M7tkaLwQ4vt43Gnhteo2uHYGQ5phjYjihCtWt5f_ncg&utm_content=278157048&utm_source=hs_email
DIGITAL WORLD: Don’t Call Them Up
In an age where phones are like an extension of young people themselves, it may surprise some to find that young people don’t like being called on the phone – especially if it’s un-announced. Many say that an unannounced call can even feel like someone is intruding on their life without permission.
Young people’s preference is more for messaging on various apps, leaving a voice-note or if you have to call… text them first!
Word Of The Month:
‘Gyatt’ – an expression of surprise, often used to remark on a large bottom or curvy woman
Eg. ‘Gyatt!’
Word Of The Year:
The official word of the year is ‘rizz’ which we covered in another drop. It’s shortened from ‘charisma’, meaning someone who is confident and has something about them. It is often used in relation to their ability to attract people romantically too.
‘Harry Styles has so much rizz.’