Going through awkward phases in middle school used to be a rite of passage. Now, kids are skipping them.
Instead of enjoying that tween stage after childhood but before the teen years, many younger kids are now jumping headfirst into makeup, fashion trends, and social media that are meant for older kids. They are trying to fit in and grow up faster.
The phases of the middle school years, when kids experimented with everything, including friendships, are fading fast. The “tween” years that were once filled with Justice, Claire’s, and toy stores have been replaced by Hollister, Garage, and Shophra.
Social media has played a major role in this change. Apps like TikTok and Instagram put younger children in constant contact with older content creators and influencers. Trends that were once limited to high schoolers are now being adopted by preteens.
At age 11 or 12, kids are already putting their image online, worrying about likes, and learning to measure their worth in comparison to others. The awkward charm is fading away.
Those years of figuring things out let kids be themselves without always feeling the pressure to be “cool.” It was fine to mess up or wear something that didn’t match. Losing that time means kids have to deal with teenage pressures way too early, both emotionally and socially.
Not having a tween phase means missing out on some funny memories that a lot of people love to laugh about. Teens and adults used to remember all those awkward outfits, jokes, or random obsessions in middle school. They’re a part of growing up. It’s a gradual journey, not something that happens overnight.
Times are changing, and technology isn’t going anywhere. But maybe that’s even more reason to slow things down. Parents can limit social media for younger kids, schools can create spaces where awkwardness is okay, and as a culture, society can stop pushing children to act like teenagers before they have to .
Being a teen comes with plenty of pressure. There’s no reason to rush into it. The tween years may not have been comfortable, but they were valuable years of trial and error that helped shape people into who they became.
