What does this mean in TikTok/teen land?

[redpickle]

Help me out, I'm clearly getting old and missing something. I've noticed that DD(15) poses in photos with a smile and a hand over her mouth. At first I thought she was hiding her braces but all her friends do it too! I've asked her and she says it's 'just a pose'. I Googled it and there seems to be a range of interpretations. It looks bloody stupid and I'm assuming it's some kind of TikTok thing - can anyone fill me in? What does it mean to British teens?

My dd15 also does this, so do most of her friends. It's a pose that's popular among teens

Better than that stupid duck pout.

It's just a pose, like she says. There's certain things people do, like the duck pout or the leg thing, and this is just one of them.

Yep my 15yr old does this too. She claims she's embarrassed about her braces.

The teens that I know that do it say they do it because they don't like their faces.

Oh, how I hate that one!

I have no idea, I've seen a friends 13 year old and her friends do this pose too, not a clue why

My DNiece (18) did this in ALL her photos about two years ago - seems to have stopped now.

Never seen anyone doing it on Tiktok. TT seems to get the blame these days for anything stupid things people do

Why do you think you've got the same algorithm as a 15 year old girl?

Are you a 15 year old girl?

It seems to be distantly related to Japanese / Korean cultural moeurs where it's considered 'impolite' to show own's teeth or open mouth when smiling or laughing (especially for girls and women).

Something the K-pop / drama and anime / manga kids have picked up on.

Isn't it when they are wanting to look like they have a vape in their hand? Fingers wrapped around the vape, thumb in the air?

I'll look out for that as I don't know what you mean.

I hate the mirror selfie ones, especially when they're used to advertise clothes for sale, or show a picture of someone in a news story. There was even one on the BBC website not so long ago.

No I'm not but I live with a just turned 16 year old who has also never seen any of the alleged TT crazes quoted in the media.

It's just being kawaii

😂
Whatever next, running out of the house with toast hanging off their mouths? 🤭

It's just a pose teens do, being faux shy and quirky because if they really didn't like their face/braces like they claim they wouldn't take pictures or selfies at all.

Latest fad. It will be summat else next week 😁

Latest fad. It used to be scribbling out various parts of the photos in photo editor before posting them.

Ha I didn't know other teens did this but wondered why my fifteen year old does (no braces). Thank you

Teenagers are mad.

No idea, but I love the word 'moeurs' thank you @AffIt for teaching me a brilliant new piece of vocabulary!

Thank you! I thought it was a political statement or something Silly me. I do enjoy all their 'ways'. I especially love "LITERALLY!" Which means "yes friend, I agree with you". I had a whole car journey with DD and her friend just making statements at each other and saying "LITERALLY" at each other in agreement.
"Thursdays timetable is THE WORST"
"LITERALLY!"
"Harry is so fit"
"Oh my god, LITERALLY!"
I turned the radio up.