The only fault of social media is that the people doing it first are getting popular and more credit, so they’re more visible and can influence other young kids, but its more to blame than social media.

Movies. Nowadays movies that young teenagers watch almost all nowadays contain sex scenes (always found that bit disgusting, even if the actors are adults they’re still playing minors - also anyone 40+ who is directing those scenes portraying TEENS is bit creepy) and no real plot besides getting a gf/bf. I remember and miss so much early 2000’s movies for teens that focused on having a passion, chasing your dreams, having a friendship, of course there usually were some relationships but they weren’t the main plot in most of them and sure didn’t contain those kind of scenes.

Music. This one is hard to avoid because its everywhere, in the radio, stores, basically everywhere where music plays you can hear them. I mean songs like WAP, Solo and other this kind with quite obvious message. Once I was in the clothing store and heard a vulgar sex song, I really wanted to go to the sales person to ask if she doesn’t feel that this song is a bit inappropriate as there are young teenagers shopping or even parents who take their kids with them that can’t predict this will be played

Friends. And that started wayyyy before social media. I don’t believe you didn’t have at least 1-2 female friends who acted “adult”, dressed sexy after school, drunk, partied and made fun of quiet kids or average kids for “not being mature” and affecting other kids to behave the same to be tolerated in a group or no bullied. All this in 90’s, early 2000’s.

So yes, while social media plays a role in making this content more visible, they’re not the only reason why young teens act like this when there’s definitely more influence around that cause it.

And as I say, there always have to be a bunch of people who has to ruin a nice thing for everyone and that applies to social media as well. I always treated Instagram as a way to share my art, photography and music and followed other artists or celebrities I like and that was mainly the purpose of this app. Then the “influencers” and tiktok kids arrived and turned it into bad space for normal kids