What are mugs?

And why are teens sharing them online?

Quick summary

• "Mugs" are unflattering photos teens share for fun, but they can turn into cyberbullying or be used against them in the future
• If your teen is worried about a mug, help them set boundaries – and perhaps step in if it’s impacting their mental health
• You could also encourage your teen to call out harmful behaviour towards others, and remind them their worth isn’t defined by one photo

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Recently, luna’s experts have seen an increase in questions from teens about “mugs”. 

Haven't heard of them? You aren't alone – it's a pretty new term so we want to put it on your radar. 

Mugs are unflattering or embarrassing photos, seemingly derived from “mugshot”. 

We want to clarify that this is not the same as sharing illegal images of a minor, and in some cases this is just harmless fun – done in jest between friends. 

*However* we’re noticing mugs being used in teen communities in a not-so-kind way, bordering on cyberbullying, and so wanted to offer some advice.

Scenario 1: someone's storing a mug 

Lots of teens are worried about friends holding onto mugs to use in the future against them – in cases where, for example, the friendship breaks down. 

If your teen is in this position, you may want to advise them to have a conversation with their friend. 

They could begin with something like: "hey, I was hoping you could delete the mugs you have of me, because…" 

👉 "there's no reason for you to have them"

👉 "they make me feel really insecure and hurt"

👉 "as your friend I’m asking you, please respect that"

👉 "I don’t feel comfortable not being in control of them" 

If their friend doesn’t delete the mug and this is impacting your teen's mental health, it might be time to step in – this could mean involving the person’s parents or the school.

If your teen is struggling with issues like self-doubt or insecurities, it can be beneficial to learn the signs of low self-esteem in teens and open up conversations around self-worth.

Scenario 2: a mug has been shared

So, the “worst case scenario” has happened - your teen's mugs have been made public.

luna completely understands how upsetting this lack of control can feel both for your teen and for you.

Here’s what you can do to reassure your teen – remind them of the reality: everyone will forget about it soon. 

A few people might make some unnecessary comments, but this will be temporary. 

Try to remind your teen that the photo is just one snapshot in a particular moment – it doesn’t represent what they *actually* look like in real life. 

Encouraging teens to see their worth beyond physical appearances is important, so here are some ways to boost your daughter’s body image that may help, if you need.

If appropriate, this is also a good time to encourage them to make sure their social media is on private and anyone they do not know or trust is blocked. 

If this mug is seriously affecting your teen's mental health, then, as with scenario 1, please speak to the school or the person’s parents to organise it being taken down.

Try to work with your teen 

Teens are sometimes worried about getting parents involved, but in luna we've advised that if the situation is causing them stress, it’s worth asking a parent for help 🤝 

It can really help to consult your teen about your plan to support them – this could mean telling them what you intend to do, or seeking their consent. 

Ultimately, every teen needs different things, so this is entirely your choice, but it may encourage them to open up to you in the future.

Confident your teen isn't at risk? 

It might still be worth chatting to your teen about mugs. 

Teens aren't necessarily seeing mugs as a form of cyberbullying, but as a form of “banter” which can easily make them unknowingly complicit. 

Encouraging your teen to call out this behaviour, or at the very least to not give other people’s mugs attention, can challenge this trend ❤️