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:

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.

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.

Learn more about Gen Z slang and 'babygirl' culture