There seems to always be a trending topic or two thriving on TikTok at any given moment that everyone has seen on their for you page at least once. As we enter 2024, one of the conversations that has been taking over on social media revolves around pre-teen girls shopping at Sephora and other makeup retailers. Because, of course, the internet has to find something small and blow it out of proportion with countless videos.
The makeup side of social media, whether that be recently on TikTok or in the past with Instagram and YouTube, has consistently developed a large following from the general public. Beauty influencers have gained traction through promoting different products and showcasing makeup tutorials. Naturally, these videos have gone viral and reached a very wide audience that consists of people of all ages. This audience includes a group of girls who have taken interest in makeup at a young age, thus sparking online criticism about whether or not they should be indulging in the hobby in the first place.
On the surface, it makes sense for there to be outrage about girls shopping at high end beauty stores before they even reach their teenage years. However, it is important to note the culture that younger generations are growing up in and the ways it is actually kind of similar to what those of us in our twenties experienced as kids. Social media makes it so easy for children to be exposed to popular makeup products and the consumerist agenda overall. Why wouldn’t they want to run and buy items like the Dior lip oil if it’s what they are exposed to on a daily basis?
It is also significant that social media can only show so much. Not every ten-to-twelve year old is roaming the aisles of Ulta, yet you might think so if you keep encountering videos and people talking about it online. Yes, it’s great to point out how kids should not grow up too fast or care too much about beauty or skincare so early. But it isn’t anything crazy for those in that age group to want to be older than they are.
Older members of Gen Z should know that we were not immune to abiding by current trends as pre-teens. Although it may have not been a major topic of discussion on social media, there definitely were times where certain products would become widespread and our age group would aspire to get them. The combination of the modern digital age and the normal personalities of pre-teens has made this uproar ten times more dramatic than it has to be.