[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/08\/peer-pressure-and-internet-dares\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/08\/peer-pressure-and-internet-dares\/","headline":"A New Challenge for Parents: Peer Pressure and Internet Dares","name":"A New Challenge for Parents: Peer Pressure and Internet Dares","description":"Talking to your kids about peer pressure can be challenging but necessary in today\u2019s digital landscape. Visit us for tips on this important topic.","datePublished":"2018-08-03","dateModified":"2023-04-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/peer-pressure-and-internet-dares.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/peer-pressure-and-internet-dares.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/08\/peer-pressure-and-internet-dares\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Mental Health","New Here","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":1121,"keywords":["Digital Wellness","Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"As a parent, you know raising a child comes with many \u201cchallenges.\u201d \u00a0Your children also face multiple challenges on a daily basis.\u00a0 Bullying, clique groups, peer pressure, dating, and drugs and alcohol are major topics of concern for children and their parents.Today, kids and parents are facing a new challenge: Internet dares that could have significant health risks.What Is a Challenge?Challenges are the latest form of peer pressure. And I\u2019m not talking about the ice bucket challenge. These challenges are internet dares that could cause serious harm to your child and in some cases even death. Some of the most recent include:The Cinnamon Challenge \u2013 With this, kids hold powdered cinnamon in their mouths for as long as they can. In some cases, people have accidentally inhaled the cinnamon, causing lung damage.The Kylie Jenner Challenge \u2013 In this challenge, teens try to see how large they can swell their lips by putting a glass over their mouth and sucking out the air creating a vacuum. This can cause soreness, bruises, and even torn skin.The Salt and Ice Challenge \u2013 Here, teens pour salt on their bodies, usually on the arm, and ice is then placed on the salt causing a burning sensation similar to frostbite. This can quickly cause second and third-degree injuries.The Deodorant Challenge \u2013 This involves holding a can of aerosol deodorant close to the skin and spraying for a prolonged period. The aerosol spray causes the skin to cool very quickly and can result in first-to-second-degree burns.The Kiki Challenge \u2013 This involves jumping out of a moving car to dance alongside the car as it is moving.New challenges pop up every day. But whatever the challenge, it is important to teach your child how to say \u201cno\u201d to the latest internet dare.Your best defense as a parent is to be open and honest with your child. Talk to them about the dangers of these challenges and give them the tools they need to say \u201cno\u201d to this new form of peer pressure. Children and teens want acceptance and accomplishing a dare, no matter how ridiculous, is a way to do that. You want to prepare your child for these types of peer pressure before they have to deal with it and you want them to feel comfortable coming to you with their concerns.20 Tips to Say \u201cNO\u201d to Peer PressureWith some of the most common \u201cinternet dares\u201d now familiar, here are some tips to help your child resist peer pressure.1.\u00a0 Answer to peer pressure with questions. Sounds confusing right? Here\u2019s how it works! If your friend asks you to smoke, ask them why they smoke, how long have they smoked, and why they like smelling like cigarettes.2.\u00a0 Say \u201cNO\u201d and mean it. Stand up to the peer pressure by saying \u201cNO.\u201d Make eye contact and say it forcefully and with authority. The more certain you are in your response, the less likely that people will continue to pressure you.3.\u00a0 Respond with positivity. If someone is pressuring you to smoke, say something like, \u201cI like my lungs the way they are, thanks!\u201d4.\u00a0 Be repetitive. Do not be afraid to say \u201cno\u201d more than once. State your position repeatedly if need be.5.\u00a0 Practice saying \u201cno.\u201d Practice saying \u201cno\u201d with your parents or older siblings. Practicing in safe environments will help you feel more confident when it actually happens.6.\u00a0 Walk away. If someone is peer pressuring you to do something you do not want to, walk away.7.\u00a0 Avoid harmful situations. If you know drugs or alcohol are ing to be at a party, make other plans. If you know there are dangers you can avoid, avoid them.8.\u00a0 Have a buddy system. Find friends that share your values and back each other up.9.\u00a0 Confront the ringleader. The best way to handle peer pressure is to find the person who is pressuring you aside from the group and express your feelings one on one. If they do not have an audience, they are less likely to show off.10.\u00a0 Find positive influences. Did you ever notice that there are plenty of popular and successful teens that are not afraid to say \u201cno\u201d and speak their mind? Follow their lead.11.\u00a0 Not everyone is doing it. Do not buy the old saying, \u201ceveryone is doing it.\u201d They are not.12.\u00a0 Find a support system. If you are experiencing peer pressure or bullying, find friends or teachers to talk to about it at school and confide in your parents at home. There are plenty of people who care about you and are willing to help. Find other activities and programs to get involved with that will keep you around the right people.13.\u00a0 Be your own best friend. You have to be your own advocate. Stand up for yourself and remind yourself daily of your worth.14.\u00a0 Do your best. Find ways to always do your best. Focus your attention on your own personal als rather than what everyone else is doing.15.\u00a0 Don\u2019t pressure others. Peer pressure is uncomfortable and it is sometimes hard to say \u201cno.\u201d Don\u2019t put that pressure on others.16.\u00a0 Speak up. Fight peer pressure by standing up for the underdog. Supporting others who can\u2019t support themselves lets others know that you aren\u2019t afraid to speak your mind and stand up for what is right.17.\u00a0 Be mindful of your mood. If you are having a bad day, you may be more tempted to say \u201cyes\u201d to peer pressure. Avoid these situations when possible.18.\u00a0 Evaluate your friendships. If you have a friend who continues to pressure you to do things you do not want to, it\u2019s okay to ditch the friendship. Eliminating toxic relationships only improves your health and well-being.19.\u00a0 Find new friends. If you notice that your current friend group does not share your same values and goals, it\u2019s okay to make new friends.20.\u00a0 Consider the outcome if you give in. If you say \u201cyes\u201d to using drugs, how could this affect the rest of your life? Remember that one bad choice can lead to a lifetime of bad decisions. Weigh the consequences of saying \u201cyes\u201d to peer pressure.Equipping your children with these methods of denying peer pressure will help them navigate the world and stay safe from potentially dangerous situations like internet dares.As a parent, it is important to know your child and their behavior. If you see signs of depression, bullying, or if your child has been more reclusive, it is important to talk to their pediatrician. Talking to your kids about peer pressure can help them feel more confident about their decisions and reduce the possibility they will fall into a situation where these issues might come up."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"08","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/08\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"A New Challenge for Parents: Peer Pressure and Internet Dares","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/08\/peer-pressure-and-internet-dares\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]