On the Radar: Hot Water, Zuckerberg Testimony and Gold Medalist Alysa Liu

TikTok’s Hot Water Trend Has Some Merits and Blunders

What? TikTok’s health-and-wellness influencers are encouraging their followers to drink hot water first thing in the morning (and throughout the day). The practice is based in traditional Chinese medicine, and many believe it balances the body’s “yin-yang energy,” as well as aiding in gut health, detoxes and weight loss.

So What? Health professionals say these benefits are a bit embellished. Drinking hot water when you wake up might feel gentler on your stomach, but it’s no more beneficial than drinking water at cooler temps. As for flushing out toxins or improving gut bacteria, experts say there’s no proven impact.

Now What? If your teen is encouraging the fam to ditch morning coffee for hot water, that’s not a bad thing. Drinking water, regardless of the temperature, is a key component to overall health—and it’s proven to aid in weight loss, too. But as for the yin-yang stuff? That’s something you’ll want to steer away from.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Social Media Trial

What? On Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand to testify before a jury about allegations that his company’s products purposely created addictive products then marketed them toward a teen audience. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his words were lukewarm and blame-shifting.

So What? According to Wired, Zuckerberg essentially said that user engagement on Facebook and Instagram has increased because those users find value in those products, not because they’re addicted to them. And according to Axios, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said last week that he doesn’t believe users can even become addicted to social media.

Now What? Ask your teens whether they think people can become addicted to social media. Do they think Meta’s design or user behavior is the culprit in that? And talk to them about possible changes your family could make to limit the negative effects of excessive social media use.

What Gives Gold Medalist Alysa Liu Her Edge?

What? Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old Olympic gold medal winner in women’s singles figure skating—the first American woman to win a medal in the event in 20 years—is an impressive athlete, to be sure. But her edgy style may have some parents, ahem, on edge.

So What? Liu’s stand-out zebra-striped hair is fun, but she also has a pierced frenulum (the tissue that connects your lips to your gums), also known as a “smiley piercing.” Liu says she did the piercing herself—but experts warn that even when done properly, oral piercings can cause infections and other problems. Additionally, the skater dropped an f-bomb just moments after finishing her routine, dimming the glow of her winning performance.

Now What? If your kids look up to Liu and the other “Blade Angels” on the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Olympic Team, it might be worth having a conversation about the athlete’s choice of words following her fantastic routine. And if your teenager wants to get a smiley, it’s best to consult a professional with sterile instruments to avoid associated risks.