How society is erasing preteen culture and cutting childhood short || Motherhood in Progress

BONUS CONTENT ||

TIME STAMPS
00:00 - intro
01:36 - a right of passage
02:49 - blueland
04:37 - no market for preteens
10:46 - the end of preteen media
15:43 - 13+ advertising
19:02 - the value of the awkward stage
22:10 - overexposure to crisis
24:27 - final thoughts

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

CONTACT ME
My name is ashley, if you didn't know ;)

#genalpha #nomorepreteens #noawkwardphase #growinguptooquickly #preteens #parenting #videoessay #motherhoodinprogress

[RIP_Greedo]

Having an awkward phase (“the blunder years”) is valuable because it teaches you that it’s not the end or the world to be a little lame or goofy. It builds character and resilience to endure the mockery of your peers and grow beyond it.

[thedreamer]

As a teacher i can confirm that the awkward stage is very much still a thing. Tiktok just isnt real.

[minababynatsume]

it's always appalling when people make fun of children for being children and then they act surprised when those children are bullied out of those normal childhood experiences... why is everything so hostile towards children these days?

[worblergworbler]

i am a manager at a retail store marketed towards kids 0-14. if it makes anyone feel better, for the amount of 9-12 y/o 'mini teenagers' coming in buying uggs and adidas like their older sisters there are just as many kids the same age coming in and buying the twinkle toes and sparkly converse covered in glitter, rainbows, and kittens. kids are still being kids out there!

[rcwondere]

I completley blame parents for this. I have a 7 year old cousin and I usually take her on shopping trips when she visists because nobody else will. They usually will order all her stuff online or take her to Sephora. When she visited last time, she asked to go to Sephora and I said "have you heard of Clair's? Lets try it!" Shes easy going so she agreed, and she felt WAY more comfortable there than anywhere she's been. She got some ice cream earrings and a cupcake bag, perfect for a 7 year old. I don't understand why we are allowing these young children to get things that I wouldn't even buy...and I'm 26

[ivy]

I’ve seen way too many videos of parents talking about their children being bullied by 8th graders because they’re not wearing makeup or not having a phone. That’s craaazzzyyy

[AtGlitchyBear]

I remember influencers making fun of the kids at Sephora, and I was just like: BRO ITS YOUR FAULT!

[CupcakeKid-rbws]

So I do admit Iam turning 13 in a few months. I clicked on this video to see what people are saying about us now. I actually really enjoyed this video. It was very neutral defending kids but also proving the point to. I also take this as a wake up call. My parents have always been strict on my time online and shows and movies I watch and never got me a phone yet. I am now so grateful they haven’t gotten me a phone, only buy me just a few make up product, buy me teen safe skin care that I need, and don’t let me watch adult stuff. I do think I will start to spend less time on the internet now. Thank you

[BringBackClassAndMaturity]

I can attest by offline observation that MOST kids actually still experience a preteen phase. Just because it's online and viral, doesnt mean it's automatically reality.

[gemjamjones]

There has always been a pressure to grow up too fast - I was bullied by same age girls for having barbies and polly pockets at 7 years old. I was bullied for not shaving my legs at 11.
Its up to parents and teachers to set the standard, reassure kids and help tackle bullying.

[Kat_da_kat]

Hi Im apart of “the kids these days” generation
I LOVE CLARES!!!
I really like bright colors and clustered fashion, tho I am not wearing unicorn t-shirts, I love being creative

I do scroll from time to time, but I like to crochet, draw, sing, and act

TWEENS ARE NOT GONE!!!

[lilyreyes]

my first teaching job, half of my third graders wore squid game merch to school.... i can't believe allowing an 8 year old to watch something that gory.

[violettefemme]

I was born in ‘90 and when I was in high school I babysat for a family and they weren’t allowed to watch much TV but the oldest daughter loved to read and I remember when she was 8 or 9 and crying about the girls at school and all they talked about was the TV shows they watched and none of them read and she had nothing to talk to them about. I can’t imagine how much worse this has gotten. And we long for them to connect over cable TV shows these days.

[Rach]

9!? That's crazy... my daughter is 8 and has 0 skincare routine, 0 social media and has no interest. She plays with dolls and hunts for woodlouse outdoors. She won't be having a phone either, all parents in her primary school have signed up to the 'smartphone free childhood' movement so no child feels left out!

[dorothitwagstaff]

Parents can raise their kids within the walls of their house how they want, but their kids will make friends in school (and in general being social) that will influence them in plenty of good and bad ways. That's why these trends could sneak up on people who "raise their kids right" - you can understand the issue with them as a parent, but there's still bound to be pressure on your kids in their social circle unless you try to control their friendships and relationships. Which we obviously know ain't gonna work out!

[tangowhiskygirl]

This is a rich people/children problem. It was the same in the 90s. I went to a fancy middle school and all the kids were very concerned about brands and makeup. My own kids are now growing up in a very poor school system (classmates can only eat one meal a day-poor). The kids seem happily oblivious of trends etc. Childhood is alive and well, but it has never really existed in the upper classes

[artbygilik]

My thirteen year old niece has a skincare routine and a large collection of makeup and skincare products. She’s addicted to tiktok, fashion and influenced by her friends shopping habits. When I was thirteen, I had no idea what a skincare routine was and had no interest in makeup. These girls now look like they are in their twenties

[Sillly_Amelia]

THIS!!! Im a tween and EVERYONE I know has TikTok, Snapchat, and even instagram!! (I only have YouTube and Pinterest, and a screen time limit) and it’s sad because whenever I’m at a sleepover all my friends do is watch TikTok, or go an Snapchat. I wanna be able to have fun during this time, to play outside, play bored games, talk about birthday parties, and to have fun without it being called cringe!!! That’s another thing, everyone calls EVERYTHING cringe. It’s so annoying. And like you said, kids in my school are so inappropriate!! They joke s3x and inappropriate topics all the time. One girl said she (I’m not going to say this word) “does bad stuff” to 5 year olds…people thought that was funny…but basically I wanna be able to have a “cringe” tween years, find my fashion taste, make new friends, and just have fun without being called cringe :(

Sorry for talking so much I know no one’s gonna read this but still I like writing my thoughts down!! If you do this have an AMAZING life!!! 😋

[rubi]

Im a teenager, and i have a ten year old sister, and let me just say, while there are some kids like this, it is not the norm, or very common. I think this whole viewpoint on this new generation is largley based on only an online expierience. My sister and all of her friends are all just regular kids, they play make belive and build forts, they are avid readers, and play with lego and dolls, and yes she has an ipad she watches a show on every once and a while, but its really not as bad as its made out to be.

[MissssGurl]

Children unsupervised on the internet has caused so many societal ills. Make parents present again.