On the Radar: ‘Car Surfing,’ ‘Glass Fruit’ and Instagram Filters, Best TV Shows to Binge Watch

Teen in Medically Induced Coma Following ‘Car Surfing’ Accident

What? “Car surfing” is when someone “surfs” on the outside of a moving vehicle while someone else drives, standing on its hood, roof or trunk.

So What? This isn’t a new trend, but it’s recently resurged on social media. And this week, it sent a teenage girl to the hospital with a critical brain injury, who (according to Fox News) “will now have to relearn how to walk, talk and even tie her shoes.”

Now What? Parents, if a teenager believes that participating in a trend—even one that common sense should indicate is a bad idea—will lead to popularity, common sense can go out the door. Remind your teens that they are not invincible. Sure, you can do a stunt like this 99 times and never get hurt. But even professional stunt performers (with years of training and controlled environments) will tell you there’s no such thing as a “safe” stunt.

Kids Suffering Severe Burns Trying ‘Glass Fruit’ Trend

What? Tanghulu, also known as “glass fruit,” is a process that involves hardening sugar over fruit to give it a crunchy topping. And it’s trending on social media in part because it can be recreated by almost anyone with a microwave.

So What? Experts caution against making glass fruit, since melting sugar in this way “stores the heat energy,” Dr. Colleen Ryan (a surgeon at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston) said. “If spilled, it can create a severe scald burn … often in critical areas such as the hand or the face.” And many children have been sent to the hospital for third-degree burns after imitating what they’ve seen online.

Now What? When made correctly, glass fruit can be a tasty treat. But parents should supervise or otherwise ensure their children have learned proper cooking safety before allowing them to make it on their own. If burns do occur, Ryan advises parents to remove clothing from the affected area and wash with cool water. Shriners Hospital also says not to apply ice to the burn and to seek medical attention if necessary.

Instagram Announces Plans to Ban Beauty Filters

What? According to its blog, Meta (the parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp), has decided to remove third-party-created filters—which would include the majority of “beauty” filters available—starting in January 2025.

So What? Some are wary that Meta won’t follow through on this plan, since CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously vetoed a decision to eliminate “all effects associated with plastic surgery.” That said, the announcement coincides with several other meaningful changes that Meta is making to protect teens from the harmful effects of social media.

Now What? Although Meta is voluntarily adding safety precautions for adolescents (and may remove beauty filters that have contributed to low self-esteem), parents should still talk to their teens about the unrealistic beauty standards social media can set. Even without filters, many users likely still edit their photos, and those photos will only show a curated snippet of their lives. I.e., they’re only going to show you the good parts. 1 Peter 3 says: “Do not let your adorning be external … but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”