If you’ve heard your kids talk about looksmaxxing, mewing, jestermaxxing, or more recently, frame mogging, it might be time to gently explore where all this is coming from.

For those who aren’t chronically online and have absolutely no knowledge of these terms, I’ll quickly help fill you in on what they mean – and why you should keep a closer eye on your teen’s behaviour if you hear them discussing these terms.

‘Looksmaxxing’ describes the improvement of physical appearance, commonly through a number of practices which range in intensity – from using skincare to undergoing surgery.

While there’s nothing wrong in wanting to take pride in your appearance – indeed, having a skincare routine and using SPF, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet and exercising are all great ways to look after yourself – looksmaxxing can take things to the extremes.

It’s a phenomenon that’s been catapulted from the manosphere – a collection of websites and forums that typically promote masculinity, some of which amplify misogynistic views – to the mainstream.

One online streamer known as Clavicular claims to have “looksmaxxed” himself from the age of 14 through a combination of exercise, steroids, surgery and taking a hammer to his face (also referred to as “bonesmashing”).

But experts have concerns over how the quest to looksmaxx impacts teens during a crucial period in development – and a time when self-esteem is typically pretty low.

Dr Candice O’Neil, psychologist at Ontic Psychology, previously told Patient looksmaxxing has the potential to “influence young people’s feelings about themselves and behaviours both implicitly and overtly”.

She explained: “This becomes unhealthy when it moves from general self-improvement and wellbeing practices into a preoccupation with their appearance – particularly when that involves constant comparison with others or extreme adjustments to food and exercise. This can also lead to deep feelings of poor self-worth and self-concept.”

Over time, this might begin to impact a person’s mental health and potentially lead to disordered eating, body dysmorphia, obsessive and compulsive behaviours, or self-harm.

Mewing is one of the practices some are trying in the pursuit of looksmaxxing. It involves pressing the tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth, with a view to reshape the jawline.

Does it work? Dr Baldeep Farmah, aesthetic doctor at Dr Aesthetica, said “no credible research supports the jaw restructuring looksmaxxing communities promise”.

Similar to looksmaxxing, but the focus is on being funny or hilarious, rather than physical self improvement. While there’s nothing wrong with having a laugh and joking around, some parents are noticing their teens are, once again, taking it to the extremes.

One parent shared on Reddit that their 16-year-old son was ‘jestermaxxing’ at home non-stop: “He’ll just interrupt us at dinner with some loud random joke or impression then stare at everyone waiting for a huge reaction … Family time is exhausting because it’s like he’s performing all the time instead of just talking normally.”

They added: “He used to talk about girls like a normal teenager but now he says things like ‘foids [a derogatory term for women] only respect you if you jestermaxx correctly’ which I had to search and it made me feel sick.”

More recently, kids have been talking about frame mogging, but to understand the meaning of that one, we need to first define mogging, which means outperforming or dominating over someone.

He added frame mogging “comes from a really toxic thought process that is good [for parents] to be aware of”.

When Clavicular was approached to take a photo with a fraternity leader, and the photo was posted online, his followers joked he’d been “frame mogged” as the fraternity leader was bigger built.

So, in short: frame mogging means you’re showing someone up by being more muscular. And in these communities, muscle apparently equals ‘alpha male’.

A lot of these terms stem from incel (involuntary celibate) communities online, made up of men who forge a sense of identity around their perceived inability to form sexual or romantic relationships.

They might say this is because of how they look or because they’re “low status”. Either way, much of their anger is directed at women.

According to Educate Against Hate, boys are drawn to this kind of content because it offers a sense of belonging, simple answers to complex societal problems, and an element of control or empowerment.

Nearly 70% of boys aged 11-14 years old have been exposed to misogynistic content online, per Ofcom, and most primary and secondary school teachers are “extremely concerned” about the influence of the manosphere on children and young people.

While there will be plenty of boys who shun these narratives, over time this content can – and does – subtly shift perceptions.

If you notice your son using these terms, your best bet is to stay curious and keep the lines of communication open.

Staying non-judgemental and asking open-ended questions, like “What do you like about that content?” or “How did you come across that idea?”, is key.

Fiona Yassin, a family psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, previously told HuffPost UK: “It’s important for parents to name what’s happening. For example, acknowledging that there are online spaces where relationships are framed transactionally – where worth is tied to wealth, appearance, or sexual history.”

Parents can show awareness, and therefore signal understanding, without endorsement, she said. You could say something like: “I understand this is something people are talking about right now.”

Teaching and encouraging critical thinking is important, as is reinforcing your family values.

Check out more tips on speaking to kids about misogyny here.

Robert Jenrick’s attack on Andy Burnham’s pro-migration stance has one rather substantial problem: the Reform MP’s own time in office.

Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is hoping to be selected as Labour’s candidate in the upcoming Makerfield by-election.

If victorious in the selection process and at the Makerfield ballot box, Burnham is expected to try and oust Keir Starmer from No.10.

But Reform won all eight wards in the constituency during the local election earlier this month – and so the party is already trying to demolish the mayor’s reputation.

In a social media video, Jenrick claimed: “If Burnham wins, a million low skilled migrants will be allowed to stay and get British citizenship in the next few years.

“And he won’t stop the boats. Instead he will put them in bedsits on your street. To pay for it all? He’ll have to hike your taxes.”

Burnham has previously criticised the Labour government’s migrants reforms after Shabana Mahmood announced plans to force asylum seekers to wait 20 years to gain permanent residency in Britain instead of five years.

But online critics could not help point out an inconsistency in Jenrick’s line of attack.

Though Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson now, the Newark MP used to serve as the immigration minister under the Conservatives.

During his tenure – October 2022 until December 2023 – net migration sky-rocketed, peaking at 944,000 in the year ending March 2023.

Jenrick did resign under Rishi Sunak, insisting the Rwanda deportation plan did not go far enough to tackle illegal immigration.

But, social media users have pointed out that Jenrick vowed to procure even more asylum hotels when he first got the job in November – rather undermining his line of attack towards Burnham.

Others were simply exasperated at Reform focusing on migration once again…

Andy Burnham is very clear that the Makerfield by-election should not be about Brexit.

Speaking at an event on Monday, the Labour leadership hopeful said: “Brexit has been damaging, but the last thing we need right now is to re-run those arguments.

“I respect the [Brexit] vote and am not suggesting rejoining the EU.”

Unfortunately for the Greater Manchester mayor, his political opponents are determined not to follow his desired script.

On Saturday, Wes Streeting – who could be facing off against Burnham to be the next prime minister within weeks – used his first public comments since quitting the cabinet to pin his colours firmly to the European Union mast.

Leaving the EU had been, he said, a “catastrophic mistake”.

“We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union,” Streeting declared.

This immediately shone a light on Burnham’s own views about Brexit, which he made clear as recently as last year’s Labour conference in Liverpool.

“Long-term, I’m gonna be honest, I’m gonna say it: I want to rejoin,” he told a Guardian event. “I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin.”

Helpfully, a video of the mayor’s remarks was uncovered and is now being widely shared on social media.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also leapt on Burnham’s comments, vowing to make Brexit a key issue between now and polling day on June 18.

“At a time when millions of voters are demanding control of our borders, he continues to advocate re-joining a European project built around the free movement of 500 million people,” he told the Daily Express.

The controversy has led some senior Labour figures to question whether Burnham – who will be confirmed as the party’s by-election candidate later this week – can see off the Reform challenge.

One told HuffPost UK: “I could get on the Andy bandwagon. But I watched and read Andy’s interviews over the weekend and thought – ah. He sounds exactly like he did in 2015. It was unclear and blustering. It gave me pause for thought.

“He’s going to be ring rusty because he hasn’t had to fight in a decade. He needs to shake it off quickly because in the first few days he’s been given a schooling by both Wes and Reform.”

Another party insider said: “It’s incredible that he went into the first weekend with nothing to say. He was a sitting duck.

“The people around him need to wise up because he’s playing on a different level now. They think that ‘Brand Andy’ will see them through and they need to sharpen up, quickly.”

However, one Labour figure in the north-west of England said the row would have no bearing on the final result, given Burnham’s personal popularity.

“He will walk the seat,” the source said. “Voters around here love him.”

Others in the party question Wes Streeting’s decision to raise the Brexit issue at all, given the deep splits within Labour over the issue.

“Reaction to his rejoin campaign has been pretty dead in the water,” an insider said. “I’ve not seen rejoice. It’s just led to a negative reaction and a tough conversation about what would rejoining actually look like.

“I wonder if some Labour Remainers are actually upset at Wes for going too early before the public and the party are ready for it – causing two days of infighting throughout the party. It shows really poor judgement.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

This week’s planned Tube strikes in London have been called off.

Two National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Tube strikes were expected to take place this week: one from Tuesday, 19 May (midday) until Wednesday, 20 May (midday), and another from Thursday, 21 May (midday) until Friday, 22 May (midday).

But these will no longer happen (nor will those set for June 16 and 18).

An RMT spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “At the 11th hour the employer has shifted its position, allowing us to further explore our members concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues.”

HuffPost UK has reached out to Transport for London (TfL) but has yet to receive comment.

“The dispute is not over, and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress,” RMT added.

Strikes scheduled for June 16 and 18 have also been called off, though the union has set new dates (June 2 and 4) if they remain unhappy with TfL’s response, The Independent reported.

Previously, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), a union body which represents just over half of all Tube drivers, campaigned for a four-day work week.

TfL has since begun optionally trialling the “compressed” work week on the Bakerloo line. Drivers can opt into or out of the system.

But the RMT said that this basically amounted to packing five days’ work into four in a way which might affect the safety of their drivers and passengers. They also said the change “includes reduced flexibility over shift patterns, with the potential for only 24 hours’ notice of what shifts people will be doing”.

And they added previously that “the fact that Transport for London has made no new offer despite months of negotiation” left them “no other choice than to take strike action”.

In response, TfL said at the time: “We have set out proposals to the RMT for a four-day working week which are supported by the other Trade Union representing London Underground drivers.

“This allows us to offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost.

“The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.”

I had always (wrongly) assumed “allspice” was called that because it contained a little bit of many spices.

Its festive flavour is reminiscent of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a little bit of pepper.

But, as with paprika, the flavour isn’t made how I thought it was at all.

In fact, allspice is an unripe berry from a plant known as pimenta diocia.

Also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento, allspice is very much one spice, rather than a blend of them. And its processing is pretty involved, too.

According to the food publication Bon Appetit, the unripe berry looks a bit like a peppercorn grown fruits are about the size of olives.

The tree it comes from is native to Central America, southern Mexico, and the West Indies.

It can be fermented after being picked and is then dried and ground into a powder.

Pastry chef and cookbook author Caroline Schiff told Bon Appetit that she sometimes uses it in place of pumpkin spice, explaining that “I think it adds some more complexity.”

By the way, I can at least console myself that my former understanding of allspice isn’t an uncommon one ― thinking pimento is a spice mix is “a common misconception,” Caroline Schiff shared.

Spice experts at Curio Spice Co. write that it’s just a chemical coincidence.

The berry’s pungent oils are at their most flavourful just before the berry ripens, when pimento is picked.

Those oils include “eugenol, methyl eugenol, and beta-caryophyllene,” Curio Spice Co. says.

Eugenol is responsible for the clove-like taste, methyl eugenol is common in spices like anise, nutmeg, and mace, and beta-caryophyllene is to blame for pimento’s musky flavour.

It’s also present in hops, cloves, oregano, chard, cinnamon, and rosemary.

Adam Driver has responded for the first time to Lena Dunham’s claims in her new memoir that he was verbally aggressive towards her when they were working on the hit show Girls.

“I have no comment on any of that,” Adam told the press on Sunday while appearing at the Cannes Film Festival.

He added: “I’m saving it all for my book.”

Adam was at the international film festival for the premiere of his new movie, Paper Tiger.

During the news conference to promote the crime drama, Adam was briefly asked about Lena’s portrayal of him in her book, specifically if he has changed his approach to acting since his time on Girls.

His short, sarcastic answer garnered laughs from his co-stars and the audience.

Last month, Lena released her newest memoir, Famesick.

In her book, she spoke candidly about her working relationship with Adam, alongside whom she starred in Girls.

She wrote that Adam had been “short-tempered and verbally aggressive, condescending and physically imposing”, adding that the two haven’t spoken since the show ended.

While filming one of their sex scenes early on in the series, Lena alleged that Adam had “hurled” her “this way and that”.

“Stunned, I couldn’t speak for a moment, unsure of what had happened — had I lost directorial authority, allowed the scene to go off the rails, not given proper instructions? Would I be removed from my command post immediately?” she recalled.

“It wasn’t that I felt violated — and I also wouldn’t know if I had, as there was little in my sexual life that I hadn’t allowed to happen, and for no pay,” Lena added. “But I felt that something intimate, confusing and primal had played out in a scenario I was meant to control.”

Lena also wrote that when she forgot one of her lines, Adam threw a chair at a wall and screamed at her.

“I’d known them only minutes before,” she said. “But when I opened my mouth, all that came out was a stammer – until finally, Adam screamed, ‘FUCKING SAY SOMETHING’ and hurled a chair at the wall next to me. ‘WAKE THE FUCK UP,’ he told me. ‘I’M SICK OF WATCHING YOU JUST STARE’.”

While promoting the memoir, Lena didn’t seem to have any bad feelings toward Adam, telling People she has “a lot of empathy” for the Oscar nominee.

“For better or worse, it was all of our first jobs,” she claimed. “I think Adam went on a very specific ride because he had the ride of the show and then also the ride of becoming a major movie star at the same time.

“So, he was on these two tracks, and he’s a very, very serious work-focused private person. So I have a lot of empathy for that. And again, the goal was never to make Adam seem like he was in any way the outlier of the show, but just to talk about how complex and confusing those first experiences of trying to be a boss were.”

David Lammy has insisted Keir Starmer is not going set out a timetable for his departure from No.10.

The deputy prime minister insisted Starmer will “fight on” despite mounting criticism of his leadership of the Labour Party and the government.

His remarks come amid reports that the PM was contemplating announcing when he will leave Downing Street as his rivals circle.

More than 90 MPs publicly called for Starmer to step down after the party’s catastrophic performance in the elections in England, Wales and Scotland earlier this month.

Four junior ministers also quit the government, while health secretary Wes Streeting also resigned with a furious attack on the prime minister.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is also running to be the Labour candidate in next month’s Makerfield by-election, and is widely expected to challenge Starmer himself if he wins.

But despite speculation that Starmer is already preparing to make way for a successor, Lammy claimed the prime minister is not going anywhere.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: “Let me be really clear: Keir Starmer remains the most resilient person I know in my life.

“I spoke to him twice yesterday, he has a strength of character, a fighting experience. There will be no timetables. What there is is getting on with the business of government – really crystal clear about that.

“At the moment, there is no contest. What there is is his determination to deliver for the British people, accelerate the pace over the coming months, much to do.”

“There will be no timetable for the PM’s departure.”

He later told BBC Breakfast: “I believe in loyalty, I believe in trust, I believe conviction.

“I stand by [Starmer].”

“He’s got three years. He has my full support,” he added.

Asked if that meant Starmer would fight any leadership campaign, the cabinet minister said: “He’s been crystal clear that he fights on on behalf of the British people, delivering in government, He has my full support.”

Asked if Starmer will be campaigning for Burnham despite their clear rivalry, he said: “All of us in cabinet will be campaigning to ensure there is a Labour win in Makerfield.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.