September 16, 2024
By Rebecca Tingey
In July of 2021, a twelve-year-old boy was found dead in his Oklahoma home, and it is believed the death was caused because he participated in the blackout challenge on TikTok. The challenge was to choke yourself until you black out, and then as you become conscious, a euphoric sensation can be felt. Many children tried this challenge and posted videos that soon spread like wildfire.
It is heartbreaking to see children fall prey to such lethal pressure among their peers on social media. However, adolescence is the time when youth are more prone to peer pressure, especially when there is an audience.
Sadly, there is another kind of peer pressure spreading among us. Although not deadly like the Tik Tok challenge, it has the potential to cause youth to permanently alter their bodies, because they feel like their gender doesn’t match the body they were born in. Transgenderism effects 1% of youth in the United States, which may not seem like a very large number. But there are 72 million youth in the United States which means that 720,000 youth are affect by transgenderism. So, what does that have to do with peer pressure and the Tik Tok challenge? Actually, a lot.
Peer Pressure and Transgenderism
A recent survey of parents with children who developed gender dysphoria or transgenderism at puberty, suggests that many were directly exposed to one or more peers who had recently “come out” as transgender. In addition, 63.5% of the parents reported that their children had a marked increase in internet and social media use just before developing gender dysphoria.
Parents are reporting that their children didn’t start showing signs of gender dysphoria or transgenderism until puberty and after spending time online with peers that had come out as transgender. It could be that much of the transgender craze is really about peer pressure.
Sadly, this kind of peer pressure comes at a very high cost, affecting these young people for the rest of their lives. One study shows that 23% of teens had taken or were taking hormones or hormone blockers, 3% had had breast surgery, and 1% had had genital surgery. These surgeries and drugs will have lasting consequences and are often performed before the feelings of transgenderism have time to work themselves out naturally.
Doctors Protecting Children
Recently, the Catholic Medical Association and about 100 doctors came together and signed a declaration called Doctors Protecting Children. They believe that hospitals should immediately stop transgender treatment on children because there is no evidence that it is helpful, and children are too young to make such life changing decisions. The American College of Pediatricians signed the Doctors Protecting Children declaration, following the Catholic Medical Association’s lead. They are calling on many others in the profession to do the same. Finally, professionals are stepping up to help these children avoid making decisions that they are likely to regret later in life. But how can parents help?
Parents Can Help
It may sound cliche, but a return to Judeo-Christian values might be the answer. One study suggests that youth who have been taught values, beliefs, and how to set goals helps them to withstand the negative peer pressure around them. Another study shows that religiously active youth show higher levels of social capital, or positive connections in relationships. Religion is a wonderful support for what parents try to teach in the home.
Parents are the most valuable resource in a child’s life. It is in the home where values and beliefs are taught, and these teachings have a powerful effect on children. Family prayer and scripture study, attending church together, and working and playing together are activities that can safeguard children against the peer pressures they face. Instead of turning to things that are harmful for a feeling of euphoria, or turning to peers when they feel confused about their bodies and gender, our youth can turn to family and faith, and find the real connection they seek.
