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Youth is the only thing worth having, wrote Oscar Wilde long ago in his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” through the words of Lord Henry Wotton, a symbol of hedonism. It is Wotton who manages to \u201cconvince\u201d Dorian Gray to attempt to preserve his own youth, or at least the image of it, by selling his soul.<\/p>\n
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A similar trend of eternal youth is now emphasized by social media, where everyone wishes to appear as beautiful, younger, and more perfect as possible. More likes will be garnered for a youthful, toned body than for the wisdom of a weathered elder. This trend has imposed a Dorian Gray-esque preservation of youth on the young, even sidelining Wotton\u2019s hedonism.<\/p>\n
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Young people today go out less frequently, plan their life paths at an early age, invest more time in health, appearance, and routines, and seem to spend less time on collective entertainment\u2014elements that defined millennials and their lifestyle at the beginning of this century. What was once understood as a symbol of youth\u2014experimentation, nightlife, and even irresponsibility\u2014now seems repressed.<\/p>\n
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The \u201csoft girl era,\u201d gyms, \u201cmood boards,\u201d pilates, running, and mental health are no longer merely aspects of life; rather, they are identifiers for the young. This can be superficially interpreted as a symbol of premature seriousness, but underneath lies a complex of tendencies that has led to \u201chealth\u201d becoming a trend. What was a form of \u201cshowing off\u201d for millennials through partying and drinking has now transformed for the young into collecting the most likes and showcasing a perfectly curated life. This is not motivated by a genuine desire for health or a desire to elevate the youth but is, as with past generations, a matter of proving oneself.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis concerns a cult of body and appearance, a need to start controlling one\u2019s image at an earlier age,\u201d explains psychologist Sne\u017eana Repac to NIN. This is a trend that replaces sincere care for health, as young individuals prioritize how they will appear and be judged over their actual health.<\/p>\n
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One of the most striking examples of this trend, particularly among young women, is the intense (and often unreasonable and unnecessary) use of cosmetic products. Experts at Yale Medicine indicate that more than 20 percent of teenagers spend over $50 monthly on products they do not need, sometimes applying five or more different products daily. When considering that dermatologists advise against the use of such products on young and undeveloped skin due to potential dangers, it becomes clear that this is a result of imposed aesthetic standards. Notably, the trend of using strong cosmetic products, such as retinol in very young girls, stands out, despite being intended for mature skin. Dermatologists warn that such practices are not innocent, yet they spread through social media as a normalized ideal.<\/p>\n
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Young people follow advice from cosmetologists, influencers, and cosmetic companies, investing in aesthetic procedures while seeking to achieve an impeccable appearance\u2014because that is now the imperative. The cult of body and beauty today is more powerful than the cult of the Beatles for older generations. This is no longer simply a cult of personality; it is a kind of \u201cculture of packaging.\u201d Social media further amplifies this process. Constant exposure to others\u2019 judgments reduces the space for spontaneity and error.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYoung people today have less opportunity to be irresponsible and to be children. Every step can be filmed, evaluated, and compared to others, which produces constant self-control,\u201d says Repac, adding that young people behave as if they are \u201ctoys packaged in perfect boxes, always prepared to be the center of attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The abandonment of past modes of entertainment is also evidenced by research.<\/p>\n
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A recent global study conducted by Gallup shows that young people drink significantly less than before, with only about 50 percent of adults aged 18 to 34 currently consuming alcohol, down from about 72 percent two decades ago. Concepts like fitness parties and \u201crunning clubs\u201d featuring music, where exercising and socializing go hand in hand, often replace club outings among the youth.<\/p>\n
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Today\u2019s social media also represent a new space for socialization. Young people increasingly meet, communicate, and build friendships online, which somewhat undermines the need for traditional outings to clubs or parties. They are digital natives leading their lives online. The result is a generation that seeks less spontaneity in nightlife and more enjoyment in digitally mediated interactions.<\/p>\n
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This shift does not pertain solely to outings; it extends to various areas\u2014from diet and mental health to life planning and even minute details\u2014where young people continuously convey an image of themselves as stable individuals. Outings late at night and \u201cwasting time\u201d simply do not align with these \u201cdigital commandments.\u201d Everything today\u2019s youth do is more in line with trends and public display of self rather than anything else. What, however, do the young think?<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think that the content we are exposed to has had the greatest impact on this change in values. When we have constant insight into how nice it is to lead a healthy life, but also see all the negative aspects of \u2018losing control,\u2019 it is logical that we want our lives to be in accordance with our health. These are all investments in our future. We live in a time of uncertainty; we must find a way to feel some degree of control,\u201d explains Ivana Stanojevi\u0107.<\/p>\n
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On the other hand, Marko Nikoli\u0107 believes that there is a specific social phenomenon causing a lack of desire to go out among the young.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMany stereotypes have influenced this. Data also show that an increasing number of clubs are closing worldwide. First, men believe that \u2018you cannot find quality people in clubs\u2019 due to certain imposed ideas. Likewise, women have their own views about men who go out. There is also a financial aspect, as prices are so high that it seems clubs are not meant for young people on a student budget. Consequently, they turn to what they can afford\u2014gyms, self-improvement, and securing their future,\u201d he states.<\/p>\n
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\u0110or\u0111e Tomi\u0107 does not believe that the younger generation is \u201crenouncing madness, but rather that they have become more conscientious about their choices.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cI personally live in greater prosperity than my parents did at my age. I travel, go out, and spend money on myself, but it is still important for me that life has some structure. For millennials, youth was often tied to spontaneity and chaos as a value in itself, while we lean more towards balance, enjoying life but not feeling like we are building everything on unstable foundations. Stability and normalcy are not opposed to excitement but are a way to enjoy the freedom we have for longer,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n PROFIMEDIA \/ Liam Arthur Norris <\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Psychologist Repac tells NIN that each generation is shaped within a specific social framework and cannot be viewed in isolation. This is a generation shaped by media that have not existed until now, making it natural for issues to be addressed differently with youth than with their predecessors. Today\u2019s youth grow up in a world of constant informational exposure, crises, and expectations, which directly influences their behavior and how society perceives seriousness in their actions.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n \u201cEvery generation is influenced by the society that surrounds it, the style of upbringing, and the era in which it is growing up. Thus, we must ask whether these indicators of seriousness are truly inappropriate for their age or have simply become common for that age group, making them, to those of us from a different time, seem unusual,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n Repac believes this phenomenon should not only be viewed as an aesthetic issue but as a deeper cultural shift that shapes this occurrence\u2014a cult of visual perfection and public representation of life.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not always a sincere concern for health, as young people are by definition healthy and do not typically contemplate it. This is about the cult of body and appearance, about the need to start controlling one\u2019s image earlier. This is a hallmark of an entire generation that lives by the rules and ideals they observe daily,\u201d she concludes.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Unlike previous generations, which strongly differentiated themselves through styles, music, and idols, today\u2019s youth appear more similar to one another. Individuality is no longer expressed through rebellion but rather through adaptation to broadly accepted norms. While people once divided themselves into groups, today\u2019s youth are collectively more alike than ever.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n \u201cThe generation appears more serious and a bit more alike, in contrast to the previous generation when it was imperative for everyone to be different, insisting on personal image and originality. Previously, there was a strong cult of idols. These idols had ideologies, philosophies, and lifestyles that young people embraced. Today, that cult of personality is almost nonexistent, as anyone, at least on the surface, can become an influencer and offer their version of reality, leading to saturation and a loss of profound influence from any one individual,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n An additional factor is the changed relationship within families. The parents of today\u2019s teenagers are often millennials, a generation that has undergone a process of emancipation and the rejection of authoritarian parenting models. Previous generations often acted \u201cout of defiance\u201d and in response to parental misunderstandings. Now, parents are more similar to their children, having constant insights into how they grow up.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n In such an environment, the need for outings as a form of escape diminishes. However, today\u2019s generations escape in a different manner. Instead of nightlife, they turn to wellness culture and self-improvement. The subtle pressure on social media regarding the success of others can awaken feelings of inadequacy, prompting them to program themselves to make daily progress and publicly showcase all their achievements.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n \u201cSocial media increase the pressure on young people to be productive and the best version of themselves. This leads to routines such as detox pilates, skincare routines, and leading a programmed life. Children aged 15 and above are already maintaining body care routines, which was not prevalent before. This trend is not motivated by health but by aesthetics and online presentation,\u201d Repac states.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n This shift is connected to an overarching sense of insecurity.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n \u201cWe live in a time of constant crises\u2014pandemics, wars, economic threats. Their education has been marked by pandemics and lockdowns, and thereafter, wars broke out across the globe. Along with this, all information is constantly at their fingertips. It is natural to feel some form of need for stability. In such a context, people, including young individuals, seek security and control. When they cannot control the outside world, they turn to controlling their own bodies, habits, and routines,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n From a young age, they think about careers, she explains, choosing stable professions, developing skills, and prematurely entering the adult world, fearing they may lag behind others. Constant anxiety breeds anxiety, which shapes their habits and decisions. While \u201chedonism\u201d was a response to pressure for millennials, today it serves as a response to anxiety\u2014a semblance of security.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Anxiety gives rise to new mechanisms in which individuals continually reassess, preserve, and cannot allow themselves to let loose, instead adhering to established patterns. Young people have found refuge in wellness culture because it provides them a sense of security. This way, they focus more on themselves, nurture their bodies, and develop routines with less dependence on their social circles and the need to be accepted by others. It becomes a safe pillar around which they build their lives and feel secure,\u201d she states.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Young people have access to a vast number of information and content that are inappropriate for their age. The clash with this content and information regarding what is beautiful, desirable, and successful leads to premature maturation. They attempt to present themselves as more serious and adult-like, even though deep down, they are still children.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Nevertheless, she warns that this external seriousness should not be interpreted as true emotional maturity.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n \u201cThey appear more serious because they have learned to present themselves that way. Deep down, they are still young, with the same need for play, humor, and spontaneity. The difference is that the time in which they live does not allow them to express that easily,\u201d concludes Repac.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nin.rs \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Youth is the only thing worth having, wrote Oscar Wilde long ago in his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” through the words of Lord Henry Wotton, a symbol of hedonism. It is Wotton who manages to \u201cconvince\u201d Dorian Gray to attempt to preserve his own youth, or at least the image of it, by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2222782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[374190,356574],"class_list":["post-2222781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-social-networks","tag-young"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Dorian-Gray-from-social-media.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2222781"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2222783,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222781\/revisions\/2222783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2222782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2222781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2222781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2222781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Uniform generation<\/h2>\n