ContextWord · Ages 8-16 · In use
mewing
Pressing the tongue to the roof of the mouth in the belief it sharpens the jawline. Kids also do it as a silly gesture to show they cannot talk.
Can't answer, I'm mewing.
For parents and educators
For most younger kids it is a meme gesture, and researchers have heard children as young as eight use it. It can be a gentle opening to ask where they learned it and what they think about looks-focused videos.
Where it came from
Named after a British orthodontist and spread through looksmaxxing videos on TikTok.
Sources