We live in a time where not existing on social media can lead us to be completely disconnected from what is happening around us. Most of the time, what connects people are similarities in what they consume online, and with how common social media use is now, this happens to be more common in children.
Growing up Gen Z, I had access to the internet and social media at around 11 to 12 years old. At that time, it was very child-friendly. A lot of YouTube media was geared toward tweens and teens as they were the demographic interacting the most with YouTubers and online figures around 2010-2015. A lot of the videos I was interested in were very bright, playful and almost highlighted this dream “tween experience.”
Famous YouTubers made videos decorating their school lockers and their rooms. They also shared fun gift-making DIYs for friends and “day in the life” videos. The closest thing I saw to trending makeup growing up was EOS Lip Balms.
The “tween” age was anyone between the ages of 12-14, in the middle of officially being a teenager and working towards growing up.
The tween stage was a big part of my childhood, with a lot of online personalities making videos based around middle school and the big aspects of transitioning to being a teenager. Even big retail stores like Justice, Claire’s and Icing targeted tweens, showing just how popular “tween culture” was.
But now, whether we like it or not, we are living in the future.
The internet is insanely broad and has more subcultures and communities of different types of people with their own corner of the internet than ever before. Now, some of the most popular topics for girls on the internet are skincare and makeup.
As Gen Z and millennials grow up and make more mature content, the most popular subjects and trends on social media surround the more grown audiences on social media, not accounting for the fact that we have this brand new generation with more access to the internet at a younger age than ever before.
Consuming all this media surrounding looks and upkeep to an extent that can be easily excessive, girls are now finding more interest in growing up faster and stopping the aging of their skin before their body gets the chance to even grow properly.
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Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
