If you scroll through TikTok or Instagram for five minutes, it’s obvious what social media is really influencing. What’s less obvious and more concerning is how young an audience that influence is reaching–a disappointing discovery I made this Christmas season. Beauty standards that once targeted teenagers and adults are now shaping the lives of elementary-age kids, especially young girls. My little sister, a third-grader, and younger cousin, a first-grader, both have Christmas lists full of trendy makeup, skincare products and hardly any age-appropriate gifts. And their classmates are no different. Sadly, social media has begun to blur the line between childhood and adulthood.
One of the clearest examples is makeup. It’s no longer just about playing dress-up or doing silly eye-makeup. Many young girls now follow full makeup routines, recognize brand names and understand which products are “better” based on price and popularity. Expensive brands are treated as superior, even when there’s no real difference. Instead of experimenting for fun, makeup has become about looking cool, trendy and grown. That pressure didn’t come out of nowhere, it came from watching influencers who are often years, if not decades, older.
Skincare is another area where the line between self-care and harm is getting blurry. Kids are asking for chemical exfoliants, anti-aging serums and products designed for adult skin. Dermatologists have already warned that many of these ingredients can damage young skin barriers, resulting in more harm than good. Yet the routines continue because they’re marketed as fun and important. When an elementary student feels the need to “fix” their skin before puberty has even fully started, something has clearly gone wrong.
Even more concerning is how young girls are starting to view women and themselves through social media stereotypes. Labels like “baddie,” “clean girl” and “preppy” reduce women to aesthetics and looks, an unrealistic and harmful way for young girls to view a world of diverse, incredible women. My little sister is one of the young girls that have fallen into this trap, and convincing her otherwise is starting to feel impossible. Instead of exploring who they are, kids are learning what they’re “supposed” to look like. These categories encourage comparison, self-judgment and even bullying in some cases.
This shift shows up in how children play, too. This Christmas, toys and age-appropriate activities are being replaced by beauty products, skincare fridges and Sephora wish lists. While there’s nothing wrong with liking makeup, it’s troubling when imagination and playing are pushed aside in favor of chasing the hottest trends. Childhood shouldn’t feel like a constant attempt to keep up with social media, but that’s what it is becoming.
At the end of the day, social media isn’t going anywhere and beauty itself isn’t the problem. The problem is exposure without boundaries. Being granted internet access, especially unlimited, at a young age is causing serious harm, and parents need to be more careful of what their children are viewing. Influencers also need to become more mindful of just how young their audiences are, and act accordingly. Young girls deserve time to grow, make mistakes and discover themselves without feeling watched or measured. I hope this is still possible for my young relatives and their friends before it’s too late. Growing up is inevitable, but it shouldn’t be rushed by social media’s ridiculous beauty standards.
