Peer pressure is feeling like you have to do something just because other people want or expect you to do it and if you are being peer pressured into doing something you don't want to do, it can feel very uncomfortable.
We asked teens for their experiences of peer pressure and how they coped when faced with it, here's what they had to say.
If you don't want to do anything, say no. I feel like if they're your friends, then they should understand.
There's many different ways, and you just have to want to make the choice of saying no.
I feel like being firm with your answer and being straightforward and what you do and do not want to do.
Saying no is like a superpower. Not everyone has it, but everyone can earn it.
I always blame my mum if I don't want to go somewhere. Oh, my mum said, I can't come this time. Sorry.
My excuse would be I'm tired or I'm just. I don't want to do it. And no, it's just I'll be straight up and just say no.
I just say, like, I just don't fancy or something like that. Yeah.
I think everyone can relate to this. When I say I'll ask my mum, because I think having that adult figure in your life to kind of protect your decisions, it helps denying peer pressure.
If you really don't want to but want to preserve a character, just make an excuse. Say you didn't have enough money to go out. We had a test a week later and my friends were all planning out a day out to go play at the park, and I'm very weak at the subject. And so I knew I had to study for that test. If I didn't, I would flunk it very badly.
I would say when students were bunking school back in year ten because they wanted to see a fight after school, it was kind of like everyone was in on it and it's like everyone knew to leave at this time.
But they also really wanted to play, and I was usually the one that had the football that would bring it out to play. So if I didn't go out, then there'd be no reason for most of the group to go out. And so there was a lot of that peer pressure. A lot of people who wanted me to go out and I said, no. And so I stayed home to study, and I felt immeasurable guilt.
A lot of secondary schools have a rule of joint enterprise as well. So it's like even if you're not even participating, you're still guilty by being there.
And so none of them blamed me. But the pressure part came from myself as well. When you fall to peer pressure, it's not just because others are forcing it onto you. Partially, it's you yourself as well. You're telling yourself that, oh, I'm letting them down.
So I just said, you guys can go if that's what you guys want to do. But me personally, I'm just going to stay on the premises and I stayed.
The best thing to do is just stand your ground, not give in to it. And don't let someone make you feel so small and so vulnerable that you feel the only way you can get out of the situation is by agreeing to what they want.
I feel like discussing boundaries and being clear with what you're okay with and not okay with will avoid peer pressuring.
There is always someone to talk to, and it just means that you just have to find a different route. And although that process might be lengthy, you will thank yourself later when you're out of that situation.
How to say no to peer pressure
Our teens had lots to say about how to handle peer pressure, but one common theme was saying 'no'. Arifah said "saying no is like a superpower. Not everyone has it, but everyone can earn it." Shakhyla added, "If you don't want to do anything, say no. I feel like if they're your friends, then they should understand."
First, you must decide what you are and aren’t comfortable with. Once you know your boundaries, it’s easier to say no with more confidence. If a firm ‘no, thank you’ isn’t enough, you could use phrases such as ‘that’s fine if you want to, but I don’t,’ or ‘no, that’s not for me.’
Make an excuse to leave
If you find yourself in tricky peer pressure situations, you can try to avoid them by having an excuse to leave. Shakhyla told us that she always blames her mum if she doesn't want to go somewhere with friends and Olivia said that their excuse would be that they are tired.
You could join an extracurricular activity, having somewhere else to be means you can remove yourself from those peer pressure circumstances that can often happen at break times or home time.
Set your boundaries
Sometimes it is hard to say no to friends, especially if you have known them for a long time, but Olivia told us, "I feel like discussing boundaries and being clear with what you're okay with and not okay with will avoid peer pressuring." Remember that real friends will respect your decisions, even if they differ from their own. Stick to your values – it will help you find your own tribe.
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.
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