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Many of us never seem to outgrow things that are meant for teens. This could be for a variety of reasons. Maybe we miss our adolescent years and we want to revel in the things that made us happy during that time. Perhaps we simply like what we like. Even though people enjoy things meant for kids, some of the same people look down upon the content they consume. Why is it that some adults are so critical of content made for teens? Why do some of them continue to engage in the content made for teens if they think it’s inferior to them?
What Are Some Things That Teens Love?
Music has been and continues to be loved by adolescents. Teens are some of, if not the biggest, consumers of music since time immemorial. Many of them especially love boys and girl-bands. Some of the most famous boy bands and girl bands throughout history are One Direction, The Backstreet Boys, N’SYNC, Spice Girls, and Destiny’s Child, just to name a few.
People love to see a group of talented people performing together. There is something about them that drives people to cry profusely and, at worst, harm someone who doesn’t like their favorite group. Not only that, but fans love to see a solid friendship dynamic within the group, whether it’s a façade or not. Adolescents also love movies. There are a plethora of films about adolescents that have been loved and continue to be loved by teens all around the world. A notable film that is a cult classic is Mean Girls. The film is about a young girl who tries to take down a superficial popular clique called the “Plastics” but finds herself becoming just like them.
Another beloved film that was released in the ’80s is The Breakfast Club. An oldie but a goodie, The Breakfast Club is about a group of individuals in detention who come from different cliques (jocks, goths, nerds, etc.) who develop an understanding of each other the more they get to know one another. Although it came out several decades ago, it remains a relatable, timeless classic for adolescents today.
How Do People Enjoy The Content?
Nowadays, young adults have Netflix where they have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to TV shows and movies. One show that is popular among teens is Riverdale, which is based on the Archie comics.
Another show that was enjoyed by many young adults that came out in the early 2000s was Gossip Girl. Based on the novel series of the same name, it was about a group of upper-class young adults who lived in the Upper East Side of Manhattan and centered on Serena van der Woodsen. A lot of young adults also attend concerts and they create social media accounts (such as on Twitter) dedicated to their favorite artists. Billie Eilish, a nineteen-year-old singer, is an example of an artist who is wildly popular among young adults.
Her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? was critically acclaimed and won several Grammy awards in 2019. She won Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, just to name a few. Canadian singer Justin Bieber is another artist who many young adults fawn over. He debuted in 2009 and has been a successful actor since. His fans are known as “Beliebers.”
Is Content Made For Teens Actually Valuable?
A lot of the music that young adults listen to is mocked by adults constantly, especially boy and girl-bands. Many people criticize artists before even getting to know them. The lyrical content of singers and artists enjoyed by young adults are often seen as immature and unintelligent.
Popstar Britney Spears has millions of fans around the world and solidified her position as the “princess of pop.” However, she received criticism for essentially not being a real artist. This is partially due to the fact that she didn’t write her songs and her pop star persona wasn’t authentic. One of, if not the most criticized series made for young adults was the Twilight series. The series was critiqued for a host of reasons. Bella Swan, the protagonist, was considered boring and stupid. The structure of the books was deemed mediocre.
It has also been called out for glorifying the toxic relationship between Bella and Edward. Edward was often controlling Bella and she accepted it. Some were concerned that the series showcased bad messages to young girls, the predominant demographic of Twilight consumers.
Why Should We Respect What Teens Love?
Everyone has a right to like what they like and dislike what they dislike. There is importance, however, in keeping an open mind. When confronted with something that a lot of young adults like, some people immediately cringe at it and assume it’s going to be bad. However, there is a lot of content made for teens that are riveting and thought-provoking.
Movies like Mean Girls and The Breakfast Club showcase bullying and other interpersonal problems that the average teenager can relate to. Artists like Billie Eilish create music about everyday struggles that resonate with millions of young adults. Even if content made for adolescents doesn’t delve into these topics, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth enjoying.