So why does the media depict these "teens" as having perfect teeth, clear skin, and model-worthy bodies?
Braces and acne are a common sight just walking through the halls of any high school. That doesn't sound too harmful on its own, but when it's discovered that these actors are in their mid-twenties or thirties, the negative impacts are clear.
Teens (or even pre-teens) may watch them and internalize the actors' appearances, thinking that they should look the same way at this age. Well, these shows are marketed towards teenagers, and depict people in high school. You may be wondering why this is a big deal. Notice a pattern here? If not, let me spell it out for you: all the actors in these shows aren't really teenagers. When you Google "teen shows," some of the most common ones to pop up are Euphoria, Riverdale, and The Vampire Diaries. They immediately want to appear grown-up, just like their favorite influencers, and as a result completely miss the point of those formative years. I actually think it's great that teenagers have a fun way to share their interests and connect with others online.īut instead of experimentation and discovery, teens are pressing "skip" through the trials and errors of adolescence.
AM I GROWING UP TOO FAST SKIN
So, when they see an Instagram influencer posting pictures of her flawless skin and perfect lifestyle, what do teens do? They mimic that behavior because they have a model, an example of what's "cool" and "trendy." An example of what to follow.Īm I saying social media are the root of all evil and the sole cause of this? No, of course not. Teens have unrestricted access to the internet and are constantly exposed to new information daily. However, with the rise of social media and other influences previous generations weren't exposed to, teens only seem to be ignoring this and copying the behavior of "perfect" influencers online. The teenage years are supposed to be a time of experimentation! A reminder that it's okay to look a little imperfect, because everyone goes through this tricky transitional period in their lives. The failed attempts at makeup? Proof of a time in one's life when they were still discovering their own identity and fashion sense? It's gone, it's nonexistent, and that's a problem. You'll see kids posting about the amazing vacation they went on, or pictures of the latest party they've attended. Just scroll through any teenager's Instagram and you'll see picture-perfect photos. But there is no trace of that awkwardness in present-day teens anymore. One common piece of advice I used to get when going through the most grueling parts of my teenage years was that this was just an "awkward phase." Apparently, it was normal to dress a little weirdly and have so much acne. The "Awkward Teenage" Phaseġ3 year olds now vs me at 13 /9c8sRWTr4w What happened in the decade before now that resulted in this rapid cultural change? This article will examine those questions and more, as well as offer explanations as to who the main culprit may be. 13 year olds now memes on Twitter is proof enough of this. Looking back at some of the famous me at 13 vs. Teenagers do look and act older than they did in previous generations. However, I don't think we should be brushing aside this simple remark there may be larger issues at play here. We laugh at it and move on, quickly forgetting about it. It's easy to dismiss the phrase when hearing it from an older family member or friend.
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