Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. an obsession
    • ex. Tom has an obsession with soccer. He talks about it all the time.
  2. skincare
    • ex. Maria uses skincare products, like face wash and cream, to keep her skin clean.
  3. an influencer
    • ex. Influencers on Instagram share advice about makeup and fashion.
  4. glowy
    • ex. Lisa uses a new cream to make her skin look soft and glowy.
  5. a standard
    • ex. Many people try to follow the beauty standards they see on TV.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Young girls who spend hours on TikTok and YouTube now have a new obsession: skincare.  Influencers promote many complex skincare routines and products, such as face cream and face wash. These influencers want to achieve “glowy” and perfect skin, which is a big beauty trend today. However, many girls who follow their advice are seeing harmful effects on their young skin.

Skin experts say that adult skincare can cause chemical burns and skin damage in kids. More and more girls as young as 8 have experienced these effects. Parents and child experts also worry about the trend’s impact on girls’ mental health. Too much focus on looks can damage a child’s self-image. It can also cause anxiety, depression, and eating problems.

The obsession with skincare shows how social media affects young girls. Girls have always liked makeup. But now, the pressure to look perfect is much stronger because of what they see online. But some online photos set beauty standards that are impossible to achieve because they’re not even real. Most of these photos use beauty filters or even AI to look perfect.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Skincare

  • Do you think it’s okay for children to have a skincare routine? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What do you think about some people’s complex skincare routines (ex. it’s unnecessary, it’s healthy for the skin)? Discuss.
  • Influencers share complex skincare routines and products on social media. Do you think children should be restricted from watching such content? Why or why not? Discuss.

Beauty Standards

  • Why are many online beauty standards considered unrealistic? Discuss.
  • How can focusing too much on beauty affect a young girl’s mental health? Discuss.
  • How can parents or friends help a young girl who is too worried about her appearance? Discuss.