Mewing: The Latest Teen Trend Explained
Mewing has become the newest trend among teens, causing concern for parents everywhere. This trend isn’t just a slang term – it’s an actual practice. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), mewing is a DIY facial restructuring method where individuals push their tongue against the roof of their mouth to achieve a tighter and slimmer jawline.
However, the dentistry world does not universally recognize mewing. The AAO points out that there is limited scientific evidence supporting mewing’s claims of sculpting the jawline. Facial structure is influenced by a combination of genetics, bone growth, and muscle development, making it unlikely that simply changing tongue placement will magically correct misaligned teeth or reshape the jawline.
Teens have added their own twist to mewing by including additional steps, such as placing a finger over their lips in a “Shhh” motion and tracing one side of their jaw from top to bottom.
Philip Lindsay, a special education math teacher from Payson, Arizona, who decodes teen slang on TikTok, notes the popularity of mewing among students. He explains that when teens use the mewing gesture, it’s a way of signaling that they cannot answer a question at that moment because they are “working on their jawline.”
Despite the prevalence of mewing in schools, Lindsay clarifies that students don’t actually believe it will excuse them from answering questions. The trend is seen as a way to “looksmax,” a term defined by Urban Dictionary as physically improving one’s appearance to become more attractive or likable.
Looksmaxxing, particularly through “softmaxxing” like mewing, is a trend among teen boys as per the New York Times. Lindsay, as an educator, acknowledges slang and trends like mewing as long as they are not disrespectful or disruptive in the classroom.
He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between fostering relationships with students and upholding classroom rules. While he allows for some humor and expression, Lindsay reminds students to prioritize answering questions over engaging in trends like mewing.
By approaching trends like mewing with a level of understanding and not taking them too seriously, Lindsay aims to reduce their impact and disruption in the classroom.
