EVERY parent with teenagers knows they’re the ones to pull the prank when it comes to family photos.
We had years of “rabbit ears”, tongues sticking out, and the sign “peace” hung for decades. But now the ‘nose cover’ is the favorite pose of Gen Z teenagers – and even Paris Fury’s daughter Venezuela, 14, swears by it.
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Paris Fury is out celebrating her niece’s thirteenth birthday, but her older daughter Venezuela (left) and niece Valentino (right) are covering their faces in a ‘nose cover’ gesture
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Venezuela Fury (right) and her cousin Valentino (left) with a friend wearing the ‘nose cover’ trend among teenagersCredit: TIKTOK/@PARISFURY1
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It’s not the first time that Tyson Fury’s eldest daughter Venezuela has used the technique of ‘covering the nose’ in family photos and it’s not just famous teenagers who do it Credit: TIKTOK/@PARISFURY1
In her latest Instagram story, boxer Tyson Fury’s wife Paris shared her delight as she celebrated her niece’s thirteenth birthday.
The mum-of-seven posted a family photo to mark the occasion, but her niece Valentino and her older daughter Venezuela hide their faces behind their hands with a ‘nose cover’.
Parents were left baffled by the ‘nose cover’ move pulled by Venezuela and her cousin, with people asking if it was a secret sign or a ‘traveler thing’.
But speaking to Fabulous, mum of a 13-year-old boy, Michelle Harris says “it’s something I see my teenager and his friends doing every day.”
But what does this mean and as parents we should be concerned?
“I was asking myself all the same uncomfortable questions and by Christmas I had had enough,” says Michelle.
“After several attempts to capture the perfect Christmas family photo, I turned to my teenager and finally asked him why.
“‘Is everything okay, why don’t you want to appear in family photos anymore because of the hot guy you are?’
“And then the big one… ‘Are you being abused?’
“To my surprise, he turned to me and laughed saying, ‘No, but I will be if you post my pictures online without my consent!’
“Supposedly the teenagers have their own group chats and are very active with school peers on the lookout and competing to find and share each other’s most embarrassing family photos so they can ‘roast’ them in the group.
“He went on to explain how the ‘nose cover’ was just a signal to their peers that they wouldn’t be caught ‘sliding,’ which we eventually translated as ‘unprepared.’
“So basically the ‘nose cover’ for most is just a way to avoid being the target of ridicule in their digital spaces with friends.
“As parents, we want to capture it all.
“Their first step, every tooth, brace, stain, and then we proudly post in our online social circles mindlessly without considering how damaging it can be to our youth within their own online social groups.
“A worried mum at the school gate shared the sentiment saying: ‘Back in the day photos were stuck in an album and you had control over who saw them.’
“But in this day and age, even just innocently swapping a WhatsApp display picture with your child can end up circulating in children’s digital spaces and be used against them.
“Luckily my son wasn’t bullied, but that doesn’t mean that others who use the ‘nose cover’ haven’t been affected by the nasty effects of online bullying.”
Parenting experts and founders of The Carol App Holly Zoccolan and Amanda Jenner spoke exclusively to Fabulous to explain why the ‘nose cover’ is popular with teenagers and what we as parents can do to better support them.
Amanda Jenner explains: “Using covers is the only way they can get away without actually upsetting their parents by refusing to be in the photo. As parents we want and insist on capturing the moment, but for a teenager it’s a big deal.
“Teenagers go through a period of not accepting their appearance, i.e. it can be spots, braces or simply have a period in their life when they have no self-confidence.
“The online world is a very difficult thing for teenagers, as we all know. But having pictures on social channels that parents have taken and maybe not perfected, it can really affect teenagers. Their peers can often share the photo and make fun of it, it’s very harmful for their trust it also results in hurtful comments that can lead to other problems. It’s very sad that we can’t share family photos and be proud of them, but unfortunately that’s how it is today.’
Holly goes on to explain the importance of consent and what we as parents can do better to support our teenagers saying: “Withdrawing consent for teenagers 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-aware and sensitive to how they are perceived, especially on social media where these photos can be shared.”
Ways parents can better respect their children’s digital space
Ways parents can support this:
1. Respecting their wishes:
Acknowledging a teenager’s decision not to participate in the photo shows respect for their autonomy. This can foster trust and respect in the parent-child relationship.
2. Conversation:
Talk to them about why they feel uncomfortable. This can provide insight into their concerns and help find a middle ground.
3. Setting boundaries:
Agree when and where photos will be taken and shared. For example, an agreement not to post photos on social networks without their consent.
This is an opportunity to discuss the long-term impact of online content and the importance of consent in digital spaces.
Amanda adds, “It’s important to remember that this stage is a normal part of growing up, where seeking independence and establishing personal boundaries are key developmental milestones.”
As a parent, Michelle asks, “Maybe we should ask our teenagers for their consent and negotiate what we can and can’t post.
“After all, I wouldn’t feel comfortable having my dot photo shared on the internet either, would you?”
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education