Have smartphones had a significant impact on your relationship with your teen, for better or worse? We’re working on a special project and would love to hear your story here! Meanwhile, kicking us off this week:
Slang of the Week: “Brother Ew!”
Less of a slang and more of a trending phrase, “brother ew” has become a staple sound on TikTok over the last few months. The phrase is used to express disgust at something, which gives it a wide range of uses, from the gross antics of a pet to your friend’s taste in romantic partners. In face-to-face interactions, it’s an easy, lighthearted way to poke fun at your friends or some situation you find yourself in. The sound itself comes from a sermon by controversial Islamic preacher Mohamed Hoblos, but at this point, the sound has grown beyond its source.
Three Big Conversations
1. Not Impressed
What it is: “Dress to Impress” (DTI) is a Roblox game that Gen Alpha loves to play and Gen Z loves to criticize.
How it’s played: After “Dress to Impress” players vote on a theme for the round, they have five minutes to collect clothes and accessories from a gigantic dressing room to assemble an outfit. Once time is called, the avatars strut down a runway and players vote for each other to decide who nailed (“slayed”) the theme best. Some of the more memorable poses and makeup looks have also been recreated in social media posts. Gen Alpha typically plays the game in earnest, putting together an on-theme look that meets contest criteria, while Gen Z will often add a layer of irony or dark humor to the runway contest. [For more about Roblox, check out our 7 Minute video].
Continue the conversation: Have you heard of the game “Dress to Impress”?
2. PowerPoint Parties
What it is: For Gen Z, PowerPoint presentations have become a primary part of many social gatherings.
Why teens are doing it: During the pandemic, sharing slideshows over Zoom about favorite hobbies, habits, or just something you know a lot about seemed like as good of a way as any to spend time. But long after pandemic restrictions have ended, the PowerPoint or “presentation” party remains a Gen Z favorite. For someone with social anxiety, the idea of having to give a presentation at a party may sound like a nightmare, and others may not feel like having to do homework before they hang out. But using “professional” software to talk about dating mishaps (or whatever the chosen theme is) can be very funny, and some find that it gives a unique opportunity to showcase creativity and humor.
Continue the conversation: Do you think everyone having to do a PowerPoint presentation would make a party more fun or less?
3. The Olympics in Memes
What it is: The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics come to a close this weekend, and the games have given the world heroes, controversies, and lots of great memes.
What the internet has been talking about: When pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik secured bronze for U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team, his nerdy persona and the fact he seemed to be sleeping mid-competition instantly became internet gold. And for a second, the laissez-faire and nonchalant attitude of Turkish pistol sharpshooter Yusef Dikec was all anyone was talking about. It seemed like anywhere you looked online, people were talking about the Olympics, and, from chocolate muffin bandits to an Italian gymnast being sponsored by parmesan (yes, the cheese), the conversation and memes were often fun and lighthearted. For some, conversations like these provided a break from thinking about politics, wildfires, and global conflicts. But of course, that’s only part of the story.
Let’s go deeper on this one…
Running the Race
The 2024 Summer Olympics were not without controversy. When it appeared that a group of drag queens were mocking Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, people were incensed and conversations about religious respect and sensitivity rose to the surface. When it came out that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif failed a gender eligibility test, conversations about gender and sports took center stage.
As Christian parents and trusted adults, cultural moments like these can remind us just how complicated discipling the next generation can be—and also how important it is. Yet for those with eyes to see, the Olympics can also provide a prime example of the sort of discipline it takes to follow Jesus.
It’s not too much of a stretch to argue that the Apostle Paul would have loved the Olympics. One of his favorite literary strategies was to compare following Jesus to athletic endeavors. In his first letter to the Corinthians, he says that the sort of discipline athletes demonstrate is vital to his spiritual walk and his ministry. As Paul discipled his protégé Timothy, he encouraged him in the same way.
It wasn’t an accident that Stephen Nedoroscik became good enough to compete at an Olympic level at pommel horse. Katie Ledecky didn’t wake up one day and suddenly become the most dominant 1500-meter swimmer the world has ever seen. No, their effort, their discipline, and their sacrifice helped lead to their success. In the same way, Paul knew that loving Jesus in a world that doesn’t necessarily share that love would require discipline, self-control, and endurance.
A relationship with Jesus requires effort. So maybe as parents and trusted adults, we can take some discipling classes from Paul, who encouraged Timothy to treat his faith like an athlete would their competition. In a world that can treat faith as a side tangent or even something to be mocked, how powerful could it be to work at it with discipline, to run in such a way that we can look back at our time on earth and be proud.
For a full “translation” of everything in this issue, check out our Monday Roundtable podcast on Spotify or Apple. In the meantime, here are three questions to spark conversation with your teens:
- What have you enjoyed about the Olympics?
- Is there anything about the Olympics you find inspiring?
- Are there any areas of your life where you wish you had more self-control?
Parenting together,
The Axis Team
PS: This week we reposted an interview with the late Dr. Tim Keller on Freedom, Purpose, and the Love of God. Check it out here!