‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Soundtrack Dominates Music Charts
What? Earlier this summer, Netflix released KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film about a girl band that fights demons. It’s racked up more than 210 million views since its release. “Golden,” performed by the movie’s fictional girl band Huntr/x, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week (this week, it dropped to No. 2). And eight other songs from the soundtrack have landed on the Hot 100 chart, too.
So What? Honestly, I don’t know if I can think of a better recent example of how what’s popular in the culture is usually popular with our kids, too. My 5-year-old niece has never seen the movie or listened to the songs—her parents said “no.” However, she still came home from school telling her mom all about Huntr/x after hearing about the girl group from her friends.
Now What? Plenty of streaming and social media platforms are playing songs by the movie’s fictional bands, Huntr/x and Saja Boys. And that sort of exposure might lead your kids to an interest in the film itself. (You’ll want to read our full review of KPop Demon Hunters for potential content concerns there.) Perhaps this is a movie your family could explore together—to talk about the themes from a biblical perspective. Or if not, it might be worth a sit down to help your child understand why your family won’t be investing time in this particular franchise.
‘Sunburn Tattoos’ Could Damage Skin
What? Thanks to TikTok, the “sunburn tattoo” has made a resurgence. Essentially, teens are creating “tattoos,” or “sunscreen art,” on their skin by strategically applying (or neglecting to apply) sunscreen.
So What? Medical experts agree that proper use of sunscreen is one of the best ways to avoid sun-based skin damage. (Also recommended is wearing protective clothing—including sunglasses—and seeking shade when the UV index is high.) So while a sunburn tattoo might look cool in the moment, it can actually cause lasting skin damage and raise your child’s risk of skin cancer.
Now What? Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time the sunburn tattoo has made waves. I remember teenagers doing this when I was in college more than a decade ago. But similar to last year’s #UV trend, teens are once again taking advice from influencers who are either ignorant of the dangers themselves or who just don’t care. So make sure that your teens do know the harm a sunburn tattoo could cause. And encourage them to scrutinize any future trends that could pose a risk to their health.
Instagram Is Less About Connection Than Ever
What? Instagram rolled out new features this month, including a map that shows real-time locations of friends and Friends Reels, which allows users to scroll through videos and pictures not posted by their friends but liked by them.
So What? Although CEO Adam Mosseri says these features are meant to help users connect with people that they care about, other features of the app seem to contradict that statement. As one writer for Wired put it: “My Instagram feed has long been chock-full of professional influencers hawking the latest fast-fashion trends, home cooks sharing their high-protein recipes, and random comedians doing stand-up bits. My actual friends are buried under a mountain of sponcon [sponsored content] and memed-to-death dross.”
Now What? If your teenagers are on Instagram, ask them what they think about the recent changes to the app. Do these things make them feel more connected to their loved ones? Or does it sorta give spy vibes? Encourage them to take a break from Instagram if it makes them feel uncomfortable. And let them know they can always share with you any social media problems they may have.
