Sydney Twichell LLC

I don’t know about you, but I grew up in the age where the only internet platform to highlight your videos on was YouTube and then Vine. I’m sure there were others, but those two were top tier.

What started off as funny jokes and skits turned into entire genres of videos starting. One of which was beauty. 2016 makeup was like peak makeup. Bold lips, large lashes, the works. With this came a booming industry of makeup and skin care that started a cycle of over-consumption that we see carry into today’s TikTok culture. Those same kids that were scrambling to buy all of the Morphe pallets now fill their carts in target shopping videos.

I loved this era of makeup, and I’m not gonna lie to you. It was wildly unhinged like the wild west dripping with drama and lore between the creators and influencers. All of this kind of came to an end when Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star rightfully found their downfall.

Currently, there are still influencers when it comes to beauty. And there’s still controversy. It’s just not nearly to the level it was, and that’s honestly probably a good thing. However, what’s filled this void on the internet is a lot of focus on skin and hair care. This, just like the artistry of makeup, isn’t a bad thing. But just like with every good or fun thing, over-consumption or excess can ruin it.

Early this morning I was casually scrolling through TikTok as one does. I came upon a young woman, likely my age, talking about her niece’s Christmas list. Her niece had requested no toys, only clothes and skincare. SKINCARE. Her niece is seven years old and already consuming products intended for much older audiences.

Now the woman in the video was shook, and for good reason. Why is this kid desiring skincare products for her face? And it began a cycle of questions. Why does she feel she needs this? How did she learn about it?

And though the answers are pretty simple, there’s a layer of heartbreak to them. When we are young, we develop insecurities pretty early on due to our environment. Whether it be parents, friends, or other adults in our lives. We notice things in ourselves early on that we feel we need to fix or remove.

This young girl is insecure about her skin. Why? That’s a good question. The answer is simple, TikTok. I don’t know many kids under 10 who haven’t scrolled through TikTok at least once. And if they haven’t, their friends have shown them.

TikTok is FULL of skin care, hair care, and other beauty related videos. This is great content for older teens and adults because it’s frankly helpful for someone like me looking to create a healthier environment for my scalp or skin.

But for young kids? It will impact them for a long time. Don’t believe me? How many friends do you know struggle with ED and other body issues, despite being healthy and looking beautiful. Why? Because we grew up consuming media that taught us that the skinnier you are the healthier and more beautiful you are.

Today, we have evolved further away from that as a society. But the impact is still there. When I was a teen I watched as my body developed into a body type that was considered undesirable or embarrassing. And this wasn’t a weight issue. And I was, and still am, very healthy. It was a body type issue. I can’t change the fact that my hips are wide, my shoulders are wide, my face is round, or that my thigh muscles are going to be thick and strong unless I starve myself.

And that’s what I began to do, and still slip into now. I began starving myself to fit a standard I was raised in. Now, strong thighs and curves are desirable. But that doesn’t stop my mind from tricking my body into thinking something is very wrong with me.

That is what’s happening to these young kids. They’re seeing the grown ups talk about skin care and hair care and what’s a flaw, and how to get rid of it. The way to get rid of it is always some expensive product they pitch as something you need in order to get your skin to look like everyone else’s. These kids are watching their faces develop and bodies grow in a way they cannot control. They’re anxious and self conscious.

I am not in anyway blaming beauty influencers. Especially when they have helped me, an adult, better take care of myself. But as adults who have children in their lives: sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, and students, we can begin to make a difference and protect the next generation from the beauty standards that affected us so much.

This can look like:

• Paying Attention to the Media They Consume
• Ensure They Understand That the Content They Are Watching is Intended for Grownups.
• Foster Healthy Views of Bodies, Skin Types, Etc.
• Not Shame Them For Wanting to Fit in

By making these changes, we can hopefully instill healthier views of themselves while also curbing the need to consume whatever is trending on any given day.