TL;DR
If your teen is suddenly obsessed with vintage-style photography, oversized blazers, and a 6'5" Australian man who looks like he stepped out of a 1950s film noir, you’ve met the "Jacob Elordi Effect." While he got his start in the somewhat cringe The Kissing Booth on Netflix, he’s now the face of Euphoria and Saltburn—two titles that are definitely not for the middle school crowd.
Quick Links for the "Elordi Era":
- The "Starter" Movie: The Kissing Booth (Ages 13+)
- The Big Break: Euphoria (Ages 18+) - Proceed with extreme caution.
- The Artistic Turn: Priscilla (Ages 15+)
- The Viral Shock: Saltburn (Ages 18+) - Hard R, guys. Truly.
Ask our chatbot for age-appropriate alternatives to Euphoria![]()
If you haven't been keeping tabs on the "Internet’s Boyfriend" rankings, Jacob Elordi is currently holding the crown. He’s an Australian actor who has successfully navigated the treacherous waters from teen heartthrob to "serious" actor.
But it’s not just about his acting. He has become a massive style icon for Gen Z. You’ll see his influence on TikTok and Instagram through the "coastal granddaughter" or "old money" aesthetics. He’s the guy making it okay for teenage boys to carry leather tote bags and wear 5-inch inseam shorts.
There’s a specific term you might hear your teen use: "Babygirl."
In 2026 speak, calling a grown man "babygirl" isn't an insult. It’s a way Gen Z describes a male celebrity who is charming, perhaps a bit sensitive, and has a certain "pretty boy" energy despite being traditionally masculine. Elordi is the poster child for this.
He represents a shift in how teens view masculinity. It’s less about being a "tough guy" and more about being "aesthetic." He’s often photographed with a vintage film camera or a high-end designer bag, and for a generation obsessed with curated vibes, he is the ultimate vibe.
We can’t talk about Elordi without talking about Euphoria. He plays Nate Jacobs, who is—to put it lightly—a terrifying, toxic, and deeply troubled character.
The Reality Check: This show is a lot. It’s visually stunning, the soundtrack is incredible, and the makeup trends it started (glitter, rhinestones, graphic eyeliner) dominated high school hallways for years. But as a parent, you need to know that it is essentially "trauma porn." It deals with severe drug addiction, explicit sexual violence, and toxic relationships.
While Elordi is brilliant in it, his character is a villain. The concern for parents isn't usually that kids will emulate Nate Jacobs, but rather that they are consuming a version of high school that is hyper-sexualized and extremely dark. Read our full guide on navigating Euphoria conversations
If your teen is talking about "the bathtub scene" or "the grave scene," they are talking about Saltburn.
This movie went nuclear on TikTok. It’s a psychological thriller where Elordi plays a wealthy, charismatic Oxford student. While it’s being marketed through "aesthetic" edits of Elordi looking handsome in the English countryside, the movie itself is incredibly graphic and weird. Like, "I need to look away from the screen" weird. It’s a great film for adults who like dark satire, but for a 14-year-old? It’s a lot of "brain rot" adjacent content that they might be seeing in bite-sized, decontextualized clips.
Ages 13+ This is where he started. It’s a typical, somewhat cheesy Netflix rom-com. It’s harmless compared to his later work, though it does romanticize the "bad boy" trope. If your younger teen wants to see what the fuss is about, this is the safest entry point.
Ages 15+ Directed by Sofia Coppola, Elordi plays Elvis Presley. It’s a much more grounded, artistic look at fame and relationships. It’s a "slow burn" and much more appropriate for older teens than his HBO work.
Ages 15+ If you want a coming-of-age movie that deals with masculinity and growing up without the extreme shock factor of Euphoria, this is a fantastic alternative. It’s smart, thoughtful, and actually has something to say.
Ages 17+ If your teen is drawn to the "moody, tall, complicated guy" trope but you want something that feels more like actual human life and less like a fever dream, this is a beautiful (though still very mature) series.
Check out our list of aesthetic movies for teens that aren't rated R![]()
Here is the Screenwise breakdown of how to handle the "Jacob Elordi" era based on your kid's grade:
- Middle School (Grades 6-8): They are likely seeing him in TikTok edits. They might want to watch The Kissing Booth. That’s fine. Keep them far away from Euphoria and Saltburn. The themes are too heavy and the visuals are too graphic.
- Early High School (Grades 9-10): This is the danger zone. The peer pressure to have seen Euphoria is real. If they do watch it, it needs to be a conversation. Ask them what they think about the characters' choices.
- Late High School (Grades 11-12): They’ve probably already seen most of it. At this point, the focus should be on media literacy—understanding that the "aesthetic" of these shows is a mask for some very dark themes.
The biggest thing to understand about the Jacob Elordi/Euphoria influence is the glamorization of struggle.
Gen Z is the "aesthetic" generation. They can take a show about drug addiction and turn it into a makeup trend. They can take a dark thriller like Saltburn and turn it into a fashion mood board.
The concern isn't always the content itself, but the way the content is stripped of its meaning and turned into a "vibe." When a toxic character like Nate Jacobs is edited into a "thirst trap" on TikTok with upbeat music, the "red flags" become "pink flags" to a developing teenage brain.
You don't need to ban Jacob Elordi (honestly, he’s a talented guy). Instead, use the hype as a bridge.
- Talk about "The Bag": Ask them what they think about his fashion. "I saw Jacob Elordi carrying a Bottega bag, is that a thing now?" It shows you’re paying attention without being "cringe."
- Discuss Nate Jacobs: If they are watching Euphoria, ask: "Why do you think Nate acts that way? Is he a person anyone would actually want to be friends with?"
- The "TikTok vs. Reality" Chat: Talk about how a 15-second clip of a movie can make something look "cool" when the actual movie is actually quite disturbing.
Jacob Elordi is the current face of a very specific, very mature brand of stardom. He represents a shift toward a more fluid, "aesthetic-first" masculinity that Gen Z loves.
While his early work is fine for teens, his most famous roles in Euphoria and Saltburn are strictly adult territory. If your teen is obsessed, lean into the fashion and the "babygirl" memes, but keep a close eye on the actual media they’re streaming.
- Check the Watchlist: See if Euphoria has popped up on your HBO Max account.
- Discuss the "Vibe": Ask your teen who their favorite "aesthetic" celebrity is right now. It’s a low-stakes way to start a digital culture conversation.
- Set Boundaries: If they aren't ready for TV-MA, point them toward Priscilla or older coming-of-age classics like The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

