In recent weeks, the “Tik Tok 10-year-olds” have blown up for their indulgence in young adult products, examples being Drunk Elephant skincare and Lululemon. Social media has been quick to criticize tweens for their actions, but honestly speaking, we may be the ones to blame.
Throughout history, kids and teens have always had physical and mental activities for their stimulation, activities that not only worked on them being physically exhausted, but also mentally tired. Over time, this has dramatically changed. Kids these days don’t have legos or dolls: the same toys that other generations have grown up with and relied on for stimulation. The same goes for playgrounds–when was the last time you saw people making an active effort to go to the playground? To go outside? The simultaneous rise of “ipad kids” and consumerism in our society have changed children’s brains and how they function, along with what their values are.
Due to being online and growing up in a digital-focused environment, kids’ priorities have changed from what they used to be, and the things tailored towards them don’t exactly match up with their interests anymore. In an age where being online and on certain apps is more important than anything else, there’s no drive for them to pick up dolls or physical toys. There are no stores for tweens, shows for tweens, no content specifically for them. They’re in a tough middle spot, trying to figure out where they belong and what they enjoy. The constant want to be “older” and “younger” surrounds them, impacting their decisions and obsessions.
This all boils down to materialism and consumerism in our generation, and how it’ll impact children for years. When parents, teachers, or any adult speaks about the impact of social media and the digital world on us, they’re right. Attention spans are decreasing, childrens’ temperaments are worsening, and other impacts show us that this is already happening, but it’s only going to worsen.
Social media may be quick to judge and slow on action, but adapting to the digital world is imperative in a society like ours.
