Teenagers never seem to run out of ways to worry their parents. Gen Z’s newest? The “nose cover,” which has prompted speculation from secret symbols to concerns about bullying.
The phenomenon went viral after Venezuela and Valentino Fury, daughter and niece of boxer Tyson Fury, were captured in family photos posted on Paris Fury’sInstagramaccount holding their hands over their noses and obscuring their faces. However, other parents soon noticed their kids doing the same thing.
Michelle Harris revealed toThe Sunthat her 13-year-old son’s insistence on the nose cover made her worried he was being teased for his appearance. “After several attempts to snatch the perfect Christmas family photo, I turned to my teen and finally asked him, ‘Why? Is everything OK? Are you being bullied?’” she said.
A new trend for members of Gen Z who are self-conscious about appearing in family photos involves doing a “nose cover”
Image credits:Ivan Samkov/Pexels
Image credits:parisfury1
Her son’s response was revealing. “No, but I will be if you post pictures of me online without my consent!” He went on to explain that teens don’t want to be caught “slipping” in photos that their peers could later find online and use to ridicule them.
Image credits:hey.its.aryyyyy
Experts have shared similar sentiments. Far from disrespectful, parenting author Amanda Jenner considers the nose cover a valid way for teens to safeguard their identities. In an interview with The Sun, she stated: “It’s important to remember that this phase is a normal part of growing up, where seeking independence and establishing personal boundaries are key developmental milestones.”
Founder of the motherhood social-media appCarolsimilarly reiterated that the nose cover is an important symbol of autonomy. “Teenagers withdrawing their consent to appear in family photos reflects their growing desire for privacy and control over their personal image. As they develop their own identity, teenagers often become more self-conscious and sensitive about how they are perceived, especially on social media where these photos might be shared.”
“Teenagers withdrawing their consent to appear in family photos reflects their growing desire for privacy,” founder of the motherhood social-media app Carol said
Image credits:lifeascamii_
As for Michelle Harris, the conversation with her son has made her rethink some of her assumptions as a parent and member of an older generation. “As parents we want to capture it all,” she said. “Their first step, every tooth, the braces, the spots and then we proudly post in our online social circles mindlessly without stopping to think how damaging this can be to our youngsters within their own online social groups.”
Parenting author Amanda Jenner considers the “nose cover” a valid way for teens to safeguard their identities
“After all, I wouldn’t feel comfortable about a spotty photo of me being shared online either — would you?,” one parent asked
Harris isn’t worried her son is getting bullied anymore, but she is sure to be more careful when posting photos of him online. Specifically, she believes “we should be asking our teenagers for their consent and making negotiations about what we can and can’t post.”
“After all, I wouldn’t feel comfortable about a spotty photo of me being shared online either — would you?”
“Just screenshot any of the 5,000 selfies on their Instagram and photoshop them in,” one reader joked
You May Like30 Of The Most Hilarious Posts From Parents That Made People Laugh This FebruaryIlona Baliūnaitė“Putting Their Child In A Beauty Pageant”: 30 Behaviors That Scream “Trashy Parenting”Shelly Fourer“I’m No Contact With My Parents”: 30 Parents’ Mistakes Millennials Swear Not To RepeatJustinas Keturka
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Shelly Fourer
Justinas Keturka
Parenting
