BTS and the K-Pop Phenomena
“Are those girls?” “Do you even understand what they are saying?” “They all look the same!” “Oh my gosh, like North Korea?” As a K-pop fan of 10+ years, these questions used to absolutely infuriate and discourage me. My...
Teen Culture Update: September 2019
Social Concerns What happens when a young Swedish girl speaks out about climate change in 2019? Well, a lot of things. We’ve mentioned Greta Thunberg’s activism on this blog before, back when she made her first speech. Ever since...
Equipping Teens to Confront Racism with the Gospel
It’s time that the Church stepped into the conversation around race. And when I say Church, I don’t just mean the institutional Church, with its bishops and priests and parishes — though they certainly need to be (and already...
Lil Nas X and the Influencer Culture
Let’s get something out of the way really quick: pop culture can be … weird. Really weird. Extra weird. But pop culture is just that, popular. And chances are that your teen engages in pop culture in some form...
TikTok: It’s Time To Understand This Wildly Popular App
If you caught wind that your favorite clothing store has been hit with a record-breaking fine from the Federal Trade Commission, would you stop by for a new t-shirt? What if it was banned in numerous countries and was...
Teen Culture Update: August 2019
Now that we’re well into September, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back, students are back in their classrooms, the thrill of “Hot Girl Summer” (a song by Megan Thee Stallion that was enjoyed by listeners throughout the summer of...
Don’t Miss the Mark: Addressing Back to School Anxiety
It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and the television is flooded with “Back to School Sale” ads! Whether you are already back in the swing of a school year...
Ten Tips on How To Monitor Social Media Accounts
Having taken a brief (and certainly not exhaustive) look at what teens are doing on the various social media platforms that are out there in my last blog, it might seem a bit intimidating to start to think about...
Let’s Talk About El Paso
Many of us are still feeling the weight of what took place in El Paso on August 2nd. I know I’m still stuck on this cycle: anger, heartbreak, disbelief, numbness, more anger, repeat. It hasn’t been easy. By now,...