Cauliflower ears

A worrying trend is circulating on social media: young people deliberately trying to give themselves cauliflower ears — a permanent ear condition that normally results from hard physical blows in combat sports or rugby. In videos and "tutorials", young people show how they "do it themselves": clamping their ear between weights, taping it up and then hitting it with a stick or other hard object until it swells or bleeds.

These videos are viewed, liked and shared millions of times on social media. The message is always the same: "Real men have cauliflower ears." What was once a side effect of intensive sport is now a form of digital self-harm with status as the reward.

• Young people sharing or following videos with hashtags such as #cauliflowerear, #fighterlook, #proveit or #realfighter.
• Damage, swelling or bruising on one or both ears.
• Statements such as "I want an ear like that too, then they'll take me seriously".
• Secret or competitive group chats about physical challenges.
• A fixation on fighting culture, toughness or "real men are hard".

Escalate to GEVAARLIJK (dangerous) with signals of self-harm or group pressure towards physical danger: report it to school social work, the youth team, etc. This trend is not a joke or a hype, but a form of self-harm with physical and psychological risks.

• Acknowledge the seriousness: this trend is not a joke or a hype, but a form of self-harm with physical and psychological risks.
• Work in a trauma-sensitive way: young people who do this are not just "show-offs" — they are often looking for recognition or something to hold on to.
• Strengthen a critical digital attitude: discuss how images look tough online but are dangerous in reality.
• Use sport as a way in: work with sports coaches, youth workers and/or PE teachers to show the difference between training and self-injury.
• Involve parents: inform them without causing panic, but stress the importance of an open conversation about online trends.
• Refer in good time: with signals of self-harm or group pressure towards physical danger, report it to school social work, the youth team, etc.

In a group
- "What do you think of those videos about cauliflower ears?"
- "Why do you think people find that tough?"
- "When does something that starts as a joke or a challenge actually become dangerous?"
- "What do you think is really strong behaviour?"

One-to-one
- "Have you ever seen videos like that or heard about that trend?"
- "How does it make you feel when you see people hurting themselves for respect?"
- "Have you ever felt pressure to prove something?"
- "What does 'being strong' mean to you personally?"

Keep listening without judgement. Young people often know it is dangerous, but feel caught between group pressure and the wish to belong.

• TrendSein – 'Bloemkooloren': De pijnlijke drang naar respect. (Trendsein - Bloemkooloren.pdf)