Gel bracelets , or jelly bracelets are an inexpensive type of wristband often made from Silicone. They come in a variety of colors, and several can be worn on each arm. They have been popular in waves throughout the Western world and elsewhere since the s. The silicone wristband first became popular in with the Livestrong yellow band which was set up by American cyclist Lance Armstrong to raise awareness of cancer.
Both the wider and thinner bands are cheap to customize and as a result have become a popular fundraising tool in America and beyond. They are seen by young people as trendier than traditional charity pins which may explain their increase in popularity.
During a resurgence in popularity in , gel bracelets became the subject of a widespread urban legend linking them to a supposed sex game explaining their popularity among young teenagers: they were subsequently dubbed " sex bracelets ". In October , the rumors were prominent enough in Alachua Elementary School in Gainesville, Florida that the principal banned the bracelets to avert disruption and inappropriate comments about them.
A very similar set of stories surfaced or re-surfaced in the British media in , in which the bracelets were allegedly nicknamed shag bands. The police stated that the crime was motivated by the use of sex bracelets. Different versions associate different colors with sex acts similar to the handkerchief code.
For example, purple might be associated with kissing, red with lapdancing , and black with intercourse. Other tales of teenage sex parties have circulated at various times. Folklorist Barbara Mikkelson of snopes. According to Mikkelson, there is likely little truth behind the stories, and the vast majority of teenagers who contact her site express shock and disappointment that so many have believed them.
