Social media has killed adolescence

“I like your nails.”

At the comment from my sister, I glanced down at the pointed tips. They shined a sparkling silver, polished and irritatingly long. The acrylics were entirely impractical, but a necessity for my upcoming college formal, because, well, everyone has to have their nails done. Even though it has recently become a checkbox for women’s beautification, having nice nails also makes me happy. I do it for my own joy.

“Thanks.” I continued scrolling through Instagram.

She sighed wistfully. “I want fake nails like that. Everyone in my class has them.”

I dropped my phone.

My sister is 8 years old. Her class is in second grade.

Today’s tweens are different. They steal Sephora products and watch “Get Ready With Me” TikToks where they use much more expensive makeup than I ever owned. I’m watching my own sister and her classmates fall into the trap of trends intended for adults. When I was 11, my polish was a sticky sheen of strawberry-scented goop, which probably cost a few bucks at the mall. Now, an 11-year-old sits next to me at the salon as we both wait for our professional manicure appointment.

This era of social media has killed adolescence. Now, awkward middle schoolers aren’t spending their allowance on bracelet-making kits like Silly Bandz and Rainbow Looms to make new friends in the cafeteria; they’re blowing all their money on $55 eye cream and $45 Stanley thermoses (and yes, it has to be a Stanley).

This era of social media has killed adolescence.

Generation Alpha kids (born between 2010 and 2023) are the first to fully access technological advancements that did not exist 20 years ago — I got my first phone in eighth grade, but my sister was born alongside the iPad 4. While scrolling unrestricted through the World Wide Web, these children encounter cosmetics, fashion, and lifestyle choices once reserved for older populations. They’re watching videos on YouTube of older teens and women getting dressed, putting on makeup, and rubbing night cream into their skin before bed. These are real people filming their real lives, not cartoons or fictional characters on TV, so kids think this is what being a girl is all about. But this need to align with digital standards of popularity and relevance overshadows the essence of being a kid: exploring hobbies, forming genuine friendships, and having a universally accepted awkward phase.

You may say, It’s not that big a deal! All kids have wanted to look older and cooler, too! Even my friends and I once desired Ugg boots under the Christmas tree and begged our parents for celebrity beauty pallets. Just as the baby boomers rolled their eyes at millennials, and how millennials scoffed at Gen Z, we now point to Gen Alpha, who, in turn, are cursed to criticize those who come after them.

But there’s a lot about this moment — and these kids — that feels different.

The pressure to grow up quickly isn’t merely a passing desire for fashion trends — it is a systemic shift driven by constant exposure to adult themes and expectations through the lens of social media (which, as a reminder, does not cater to children). Today’s social media expedites the transition from playful innocence to teenage experimentation, abandoning the developmental milestones that shape healthy youth in the process. Plus, given our full awareness of social media’s impact on mental health — with rates of teen depression and suicide skyrocketing — introducing these apps to children only further negatively impacts today’s teens.

As adults, it’s our responsibility to recognize how these trends influence the development of children entering an age of innovation.

So, to current parents: I ask that you recognize the profound impact of unrestricted internet access on children’s development. It may not be practical to remove technology altogether, but creating limits can be beneficial. Consider implementing time restrictions, app restrictions, or age restrictions on social media platforms.

More importantly, remember your own childhood. Adolescence is a time for exploration and growth, a period that shapes the foundation of a healthy adulthood while simultaneously enjoying the freedom of being a kid. Today’s kids are great at acting like adults. Make sure they have time to also act like kids, inventing games and stories, or making silly bracelets for a new friend. Let us bring back childhood by prioritizing genuine connections and meaningful experiences over material status and digital trends.

Rida Hamid is a student at Pennsylvania State University.