Three Things This Week

1. Bad Things

What it is: A popular song by Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello (formerly of Fifth Harmony) that borrows lyrics and melody from the 1998 song “Out of My Head” by Fastball.

Why it's despicable: Swapping lyrics like, “Don’t matter what I say, only what I do. I never mean to do bad things to you” with “Don’t matter what you say, don’t matter what you do. I only wanna do bad things to you,” the artists completely altered the original’s meaning, from one of waking up and acknowledging one’s responsibility to one of dysfunctional, drug-induced lust. The well-known tune only enhances the song’s ability to stick in our teen’s heads, infecting them with destructive views of relationship. Talk with your students about Cabello’s explanation of the song and how its words can impact them.

2. What’s Your Word?

What it is: MyIntent.org is an online shop that creates simple, customizable jewelry to remind wearers to live intentionally. Buyers simply choose a word by which they are or want to be defined, and My Intent inscribes it for them.

Why it's good: Living intentionally and fully present is a movement we can get behind! Encourage your teens to choose a word for themselves. Maybe it’s a word that represents who they want to become or what they want to change in the world. Maybe it’s a word that gives them perspective or reminds them of someone they admire. Then brainstorm with them practical ways to live out that word on a day-to-day basis. Even better, do this exercise as a family! This excellent interview from our Parenting Teens Summit details how to create a “brand” that helps your family live into your God-given strengths and calling.

3. NBA eLeague

What it is: Ever wished you had the physical prowess to play in the NBA? Good news! Starting in 2018, you can try out to be on the eKnicks (owned by an actual NBA franchise) and play virtual ball for your favorite team.

Why it's important: eSports are real. They may even be included in the 2024 Olympics. Though it sounds weird to be paid to sit in front of a screen for an 82-game season in pursuit of a virtual NBA Championship, don’t be too hasty to react sarcastically about it. After all, it allows students who love sports but only possess average abilities to participate at the highest level. Kinda cool. But as with all screen-based technology, encourage wise engagement, as well as keeping a balance between new virtual skills and real-world experiences.

Join us for our next parent webinar: http://axis.org/webinar-registration

Trending Hashtags

Today’s teens, like every generation before them, continue coming up with trendy words or slang that make it seem as if they are speaking a different language than the rest of us. It’s normal and is a natural aspect of group identity and self-expression. Add to that the world of hashtagging, and there is an almost-endless vocabulary of shrouded meanings hiding in plain sight. The next time you scroll through your teen’s Instagram feed or Snapchat, pay particular attention to the hashtags you see. What are they? What do they mean? What are they communicating with those in the know. Here are 10 troubling and trending hashtags teens are currently using to express potentially dangerous or harmful behavior with their peers.

1. #deb = depression
2. #sue = suicide
3. #ana = anorexic
4. #mia = bulimia
5. #ednos = eating disorder not otherwise specified
6. #thinsp = thinspo or “thinspiration" (i.e. things that help students achieve the level of thinness deemed desirable by the world, by whatever means possible)
7. #borderline = borderline personality disorder
8. #svv = self-harming behavior
9. #secretsociety123 = students who engage in non-suicidal self harm
10. #420 = marijuana. Also represented by the maple leaf emoji