Since the death of the Justice store, and stores like it, tweens don’t really have a place to go, so what do they do now? It seems they have taken to more mature habits, like going to Sephora to buy popular products, but they are acting rude to the workers, and other customers in the store.
Many have shown their distaste for the trend, mostly blaming parents and the social media influencers for leading kids to partake in such trends. Though, some have been quick to point out that kids have always looked up to those older than them. That’s the magic of childhood, so it is no wonder that young individuals are engaging with these practices at an earlier age. The widespread accessibility of information has created a generation that is highly informed about beauty products, trends, and techniques, leading to demand and interest at younger ages.
While some argue that parents should actively discourage or forbid their children from exploring skincare products at such a young age, others believe that allowing these younger individuals to express themselves freely, is essential for their development. Then again, it is important to make sure that children are experimenting with is safe, and age appropriate. Nevertheless, parents must maintain a balancing act, ensuring their children’s safety, and mental well-being, while permitting age-appropriate experimentation.
As young people are exposed to advertising, media, and online influencers, societal pressures can significantly shape their perception of beauty standards. The notion that clear, flawless skin is a symbol of success and self-worth, is often subconsciously reinforced through these influencers. Young children, in their quest for social acceptance, might be driven to pursue skincare practices that go beyond their years, which is driven by a desire to conform to societal expectations, especially tweens. At that age, there is a weird in-between in which they feel too old to be a kid, and too young to be a teen. This can cause a lost sense of who they are and self-confidence.
Many people have proposed that companies should come back with tween oriented products and places. Many years ago, Justice or Claire’s used to be popular places they could go, but that era has ended. With the ten year olds now running through Sephora stores, they have tended to act out, or throw tantrums if their product that they’re looking for is out.
Through the power of social media, many people have shared their encounters with these ten year olds, and most of them are not great. Most are rude to other customers and staff. Some even get aggressive and hit employees. Others recall seeing the stores in such disarray after a group of tweens come in, with lipsticks smashed, and eyeshadows broken. The testers are all mixed up and ruined, especially on the more expensive products. Some of these tweens even take out products from the packaging and make messes with that too.
Parents ought to take more care of looking after their children, and seeing what they’re doing online. Sephora has already started taking measures to ensure the safety of their customers by verifying the age of their customers. It is now up to the parents to ensure that their children are learning proper store etiquette, and as well as what is safe for their skin. Perhaps we should bring back tween spaces, so they don’t feel left out, and have a place to go instead.
