May 2, 2022
Throughout this story, the phrase “teenage girls” will be used frequently. The author’s intent is to discuss those who identify as girls or femmes.
Teenage girls are a diverse group, and while most teenage girls do not embody a Regina George-esque existence (an existence that revolves around boys, popularity, maintaining an impeccable appearance and shopping frequently), the weight of girls who embody at least fragments of her characteristics is significant in American society. Teenage girls have an immeasurable impact much in America, yet the power they hold is often overlooked by modern men. Young female consumers hold vast power from dictating a company’s profits to boosting the career and financial gain of celebrities.
It is an undeniable truth that social media holds great significance in dictating modern day societal behaviors. Many American citizens consume some form of social media daily, and its influence is wide in our daily lives. Social media keeps us connected to what is trending, what products we should consume and what behaviors we should embody. It informs us what is currently “chugey” and what products and behaviors should be avoided at all costs. Interestingly enough, teenage girls embody the largest percentage of social media users. Teenage girls have the largest yay and nay vote in terms of deciding what content will become popular in social media and what behaviors will be reinforced in American society, based upon how they fare on social media platforms. It is therefore apparent that teenage girls influence much of the behaviors and practices present in modern day America, given that many of our norms are dictated via social media, which teen girls dominate.
The impact of teenage girls on the American economy can be observed through semi-recent phenomena such as the emergence of VSCO girls. VSCO girls were a popular fashion and lifestyle trend of the late 2010s, in which predominately teenage girls wore short athletic shorts, an oversized shirt, Crocs and carried a Hydroflask water bottle, often decorated with stickers. The VSCO girl sensation swept social media feeds globally, and for a time, VSCO girls were seen as the “it girls.” Consequently, the companies frequently patronized by said girls profited financially from the trend. According to an article published by the Daily Mail in November of 2019, Hydroflask sales increased by 239 percent, and Croc sales increased by 229 percent following the VSCO girl trend. However flighty and trivial teen trends may seem, those very trends boost America’s economy and the livelihoods of Americans nationwide.
The societal impact of female adolescents can be further observed by the phenomenal success of currently popular actors like Timothée Chalamet and comedians such as Pete Davidson. For many years in Hollywood, muscular, tanned, lighter haired males stole the hearts of adolescents nationwide. Magazine cutouts of actors such as Chad Michael Murray, Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling hung from teens’ bedroom walls and locker interiors. However, it is evident in modern day a new type of teenage heartthrob has emerged. Pastier, skinner, darker haired, some may say unconventionally attractive males have won the current affections and wall space of America’s youth. Popular and widely acclaimed actor Timothée Chalamet and widely renowned comedian Pete Davidson have arguably earned a significant portion of their success and wealth due to teenagers’ infatuation with them. One does not need to scroll on social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram for long to find posts from adolescents thirsting over the celebrities’ appearances, and their infatuation manifests as more financial gain for said men. The more
teenagers who find Davidson and Chalamet insatiable, the more teenagers buy tickets to their movies and comedy shows. The more teens post about their infatuation with Pete and Timothée, the more they become on social radar, consequently, the more they are wanted by companies for sponsorships and promotions, both of which directly funnel money into the two men’s bank accounts.
Teenage girls truly have a unique position in modern day America. Whether young girls realize it or not, their opinions are being closely watched by adults and even younger children who aim to follow their lead. Despite the gross stereotypes that female adolescents are overly emotional, unintelligent, flighty and a burden to society, it is apparent that teenage girls carry great significance and purpose. Our society could truly not function the same without teenage girls.
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