“I returned from a date with a crash”: how social networks corrupt children

In one video, a schoolgirl in the form of a sexy “devil” – in a corset, miniskirt, stockings and “horns” – reaches for a chocolate bar to the song Satisfaction (the lyrics of which clearly hint at “adult” pleasures). Another girl, under the track “It’s got to be like this,” shows how to dance on a pole. The third dances twerk to Morgenstern’s song. The fourth is licking her lips, making jokes about “date with crash” (that is, a boy who likes) …

There are more and more such videos lately, especially in the Likee application, where you can shoot short music videos and apply special effects to them. As a competitor to TikTok, the social network attracts attention with its wide monetization opportunities – for example, the local currency in the form of “beans” and “diamonds” can be exchanged for real money and “withdrawn” from the application.

But to become popular and make money, you need a lot of subscriptions, views and comments. You need content that grabs attention. And in Likee, they became children’s videos … with sexual overtones.

“I want to be like my mother”

At a certain stage of development, children begin to imitate their parents: in this way they satisfy their interest in previously unfamiliar actions and try on the role of an adult. Boys imitate their father’s walk, use his phrases, try to dress in his costume or pretend to shave. And the girls try to repeat their mother’s image: they put on lipstick, do manicures, try on her dresses and heels.

Such actions do not pose a threat: they are natural, devoid of sexual overtones, explains child and family psychologist Ekaterina Kes. “Children at preschool age often play role-playing games, taking on the role of adults – a doctor, a teacher, a salesman,” she emphasizes.

– The line between the natural study of life around and sexualization (when an action or phenomenon has a sexual connotation. – Approx. ed.) is violated when the child begins to demonstrate frank sexual behavior. And this is not only unethical, but also detrimental to the child’s psyche.

Why do they do this?

It is difficult to imagine that a child would independently want to dress sexually and pose in “advantageous” poses “just like that.” In most cases, this is the result of outside influence.

The psychologist names three reasons that push children to sexualized behavior:

• imitation of idols – now these are young bloggers who behave much more mature than their years. Taking an example from them, many children begin to believe that it is precisely this behavior that can make them more popular, interesting and “cool”;
• desire to stand out from the crowd. It seems that photos and videos of this format are one of the easiest ways to attract attention and become “not like everyone else”;
• viewing “adult” content on the Internet. Whether on their phone, on a friend’s or classmate’s gadget, or even on a parent’s laptop, having access to pornography too early can lead children to mimic the behavior they see in it.

Why is child sexualization dangerous?

Creating this kind of photo and video content always has consequences for the child’s psyche, even if after a few years the teenager deletes the application and never returns to this “creativity” format.

“Of course, such children are at risk of sexual harassment and violence by older children or adults. It is also highly likely that they will start their sexual life early, says Ekaterina Kes. – In addition, they have a disturbed idea of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthemselves as a person.

They begin to believe that it is possible to attract attention to themselves only through defiant behavior, flirting, sexual movements, looks and specific facial expressions. Because of this, there is a shift in emphasis from the inside to the outside.”

In addition, it is worth noting the problems with self-esteem. Many teenagers, especially girls, take their cue from the models in photos on social networks – beautifully posing in fashionable, tight or open clothes, with bright makeup … They want to be the same, and inconsistency with the “ideal” forms complexes in them.

“Where are the parents looking?”

So I want to once again blame social networks and entertainment applications for everything. But in most cases, parents know exactly what kind of videos their children are filming – it’s impossible to hide it for a long time. And often they also support the offspring’s hobbies – they offer ideas for videos, help with their implementation, and even take part in filming.

For example, in one of clips girls in tight mini-dresses, answering the question of users “Where are your parents looking?”, Point to their mother, dressed in the same outfit. Why it happens? Why do parents not stop but encourage the sexualization of their own children?

According to Ekaterina Kes, parents are confused when it comes to positive and unacceptable behavior. Firstly, because they themselves see dozens of such videos every day, and secondly, because they also become participants in the race for popularity – only with the help of their own children.

“Reach, likes, comments… I would say that there is some degradation of parents,” notes the psychologist. – For example, there is a video in which a mother in front of a two-year-old baby defiantly cuts his favorite nipple into pieces and films how he starts to cry.

Under this video, users left more than 6 thousand indignant comments, and mom just needed it. She is not lazy, answers everyone, and the number of comments doubles. That’s such cheap popularity.”

“For cooperation, write to mom”

Due to their age, children cannot take on all the functions of adults – especially when it comes to the financial sector. What to advertise, what topics to cover, with whom to film and for what amount? This is decided by their producer, that is, the parent.

At first glance, this seems to be the best option – mom or dad will not leave, they will not deceive. They know their ward better than anyone else and will only act in his best interest. But in reality, everything is different.

“Parents begin to look at the child not as a person with their own feelings, but as a source of money and popularity. It becomes a means to achieve their goals, so they are guided by their own desires, and not by the needs of the child. All this, of course, leads to a violation of parent-child relations, ”concludes Ekaterina Kes.