“Fugly”: Understanding Teen Self-Deprecation and the Culture of Breaking Yourself Down to Fit In

From viral memes to offhand jokes, self-deprecating humor has become a normalized part of teen culture. But what happens when joking turns into internalized criticism? This blog explores the rise of teen self-deprecation, how social media fuels it, and what we can do to encourage more self-compassion and genuine connection among adolescents.