Corporate Pedofilia

I tuned into Nightline, a couple of weeks ago and was infatuated by the segment that was done on Corporate Pedofilia. The idea is that these large, retail powerhouses are targeting tween girls (ages 9-12), based on what their celebrity idols are wearing (Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, to name a few). One of the main reasons why these companies signal out this age group, is simply because they have a very high disposable income - be it the result of allowances, babysitting, birthdays or other holidays - they got that dough, and more importantly, they LOVE spending it (to the tune of $43 billion, annually). Of course, young women imitating celebrities has always been the case, but compare the celebs of then to now. My mind wanders back to the contrasting times of innocence and Judy Garland - it's hard not to think of what the future has in store for our impulsive society. By observing what has been and what is now, it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is to come with teen/tween celebrities and their youthful styles, whether they are appropriate or not. One thing we know for sure, however, is that retailers will keep benefitting from celebs and their always contagious styles that move fluidly - as they are funneled from adults, to teens, to tweens, to children, to toddlers, to infants.
For your enjoyment, a look at teen celebs from backintheday to today.