where is the bachhpan?

where is the bachhpan?

Recently, I came across an influencer, aged below 18, featured in music videos with musicians more than twice her age, dancing to lyrics sexualizing and objectifying women. When you look at her, you might not be able to tell she is a minor. And it’s not about how she dresses, but more or less about her lifestyle. There have been several discussions about this influencer including calling out the musicians who did not feel wrong to have a minor performing to their rather adult lyrics. There were also discussions about her mother allegedly faking her age to make her daughter work in such situations. There are numerous such influencers and numerous such parents and of course, numerous such musicians. At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing – profit.

It is very apparent that teenagers all over the world seem to be skipping the innocent, the curious pre-teen phase and jumping straight into adulthood. Especially and specifically, they jump right into the more adult aspects of social and romantic relationships. From the different alcohol brands to all the different positions, they seem to know it all. And very eagerly, want to experience that life. But the question is WHY? Why can’t a kid get a role of a kid that behaves like a kid? Why do kids feel the need to experience everything before their time? The answer actually lies in a cycle – of media consumption and media portrayal.

Media is one of the most important factors that affects the decision making and lifestyle of any individual. 

Not to sound like a boomer, but when I was in school, my day used to start with Little Krishna and Phineas and Ferb. There were shows like Ring Rong Ring, Gilli Gilli Gappa, Jeannie aur Juju, Baal veer and Best of luck Nikki. And the movies, oh it makes me so happy to just think about them. Taare Zameen Par, Zocomon, Chain Kuli Ki Main Kuli, Stanley ka Dabba, Bhoothnath, Bhoot Uncle and so many more. These shows and movies showed the fun and excitement of vacations, friendships, dreams, and even things that we experienced as children but were never able to put into words, the good, bad and everything.

Today, there is a blank in the entertainment content meant for children. There’s also content showing lives of high school kids, but it isn’t meant to be watched by high school kids. Why? Because these high school kids in the show are indulging in hyper adult activities. Even in advertisements that we watch every day, the children always know everything about the nutrients and benefits and process and everything about the product. They seem less like children and more like salespeople. There is also a very interesting ad campaign wherein kids are dressed like adults with mustaches and all, and speaking the adulting terms. Even the cartoons these days don’t have children in them!

Therefore, the kids are left with no option to consume the content not meant for them and learn the ways of the adults. This creates a media cycle. Not having proper representation of kids in movies makes them watch more young adult and adult content, and them watching more of such content creates more profits for it.  And most of this adult content is not even morally correct. It is often times filled with misogyny, propaganda and other socially unacceptable content. This has a very severe impact on the kids minds. Since most of the times this doesn’t seem to affect the kids’ academics, parents or guardians don’t seem to think much of it. But it does affect how these kids will form social and romantic relations, their opinions on political and social issues and also their overall personality. Which can and will change the course of their life.

All this because childishness, the innocence, the excitement – is no longer considered profitable.

hope museum.