Considering I haven't posted in a while, rest assured that my first post in weeks not being about fashion does have me hanging my head with shame (although we've all seen the trends: a 70s takeover with a giant helping of suede, denim and free-love movement dressing- think Jenny from Forrest Gump for inspiration.)
However, I do tend to flesh in a few non-fashion posts occasionally, and tonight I felt it was time for another.
Obviously I remember exactly what I was like when I was thirteen years old- it wasn't long ago, I'd be concerned if I didn't- and it's a hilarious contrast from who I am now. I was timid, extremely unsure and most definitely sporting the classic awaiting-puberty-so-I-stop-looking-ten appearance, but we all were! I was horrendous at applying make-up, as most tweens are- "Flicks on eyeliner?! You're kidding!"- and I was probably on that borderline of finding your own style and still accepting your mum's advice- though I still accept my mum's advice, she's a trendy lady. Most importantly, my social media accounts were only just beginning, and it wasn't a huge part of any of our lives yet.
Most of us had barely had Facebook for that long, and were perhaps starting on Twitter, but the fascination hadn't hit the boom of simultaneously managing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and Snapchat- to name a few- that the world is now. With an increase in the dedication to social media came a decrease in the average age of those participating. Suddenly, I see that eleven year olds have Facebook, or ten year olds have Instagram, which then lead me to spot a different change.
A girl of say thirteen being exposed to images of young adult women, with entire faces of carefully applied make-up, perfectly styled hair and outfits that are completely acceptable for their age group, will undoubtedly begin to influence said girl. They would forget that they'll receive their time for all of this eventually, and instead begin take enormous effort in perfecting their lip liner, and dressing for an age group that they're not a part of yet. Suddenly, we find that there don't seem to be any thirteen year olds left anymore, as they all magically appear to be around eighteen now. This is where I believe it all gets a little too inappropriate. Said girl, with extraordinary, accelerated-ageing abilities, will start to post selfies on her Instagram, and with her clever sorcery- and the assistance of a good filter- she produces a picture that leaves us questioning whether we've been napping for the past five years. However, the real concern is produced when seventeen or eighteen year old boys, or even older, happen upon this picture and decide to drop it a "like".
It may sound like a minor issue, a trivial issue that isn't concerning, but in reality it really should be. Because she can make herself appear eighteen, does that alter the fact that she is still thirteen? Furthermore, if any kind of relationship there would be illegal then why shouldn't liking her pictures be entirely inappropriate? An eighteen year old male should not have the opportunity to see a thirteen year old girl in anyway but as a younger female.
Eighteen and thirteen are wildly different stages of teenage-hood. These stages involve completely different states of mind, and enormously different concepts are appropriate for the respective age groups. Despite all of this, social media has deemed it acceptable for inappropriate behaviour to occur, as a "like" on Instagram "isn't a big deal!"
Well I would say it is, and I would urge that whether you're male or female you should be conscientious over what is appropriate behaviour on social media.
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