The aging agenda: an insight into perspectives on aging

BY MEGAN DENNIE
    Aging is a natural phenomenon that happens to everyone. It is constantly changing people’s bodies and minds. Social media has impacted how, as a society, we view aging.
    People ranging from their tweens and long into adulthood have differing views of the process of aging. The obsession with wanting to become older faster in younger people has been highlighted by the infamous “Sephora Kids”.

The “Sephora Kids” trend is a phenomenon where teens and tweens emulate adult appearances with layers of caked-on makeup. Conversely, older generations are constantly reminiscing about their prime youth. Age can be deceiving, for it slips away before most people reflect on it.
     “I’ve heard people talk about how great it is to get older and all the good things that come with it,” Kristen Justice, a chemistry teacher at DSA, commented. 
     As we grow older, people realize and must come to terms with the benefits of being older.  Aging is a complex process. Justice is in her mid-20s and has a positive view on aging. 
     “A lot of influencers are getting married and having kids later, so that makes me feel more comfortable with it because something that concerns me is having to get married and have kids in your 20s,” Justice added.
     Lots of pressure has been put on society to have certain achievements completed by a certain age. There is pressure to complete college, pursue a career, get married, and own a house. Social media has had a large impact on people's outlook on the aging process. The stress of being “on time” with your life journey can be daunting and close-minded. 
    “Social media sheds bad light on aging when it is a natural thing and people can’t control that,” Lucas Bartosik, a junior at DSA, remarked.
    Social media contributes to the manipulation and molding of younger generations. Instagram and TikTok’s audiences are generally teens and people in their 20s. These ages are particularly vulnerable to feeling the pressure to fit in and have lived specific experiences by a certain age.

     “It’s interesting being in the same generation because I feel more connected to younger people. I don’t look different from students, but I definitely feel older because of my lived experiences,” Justice compared.
     The concept of age is more than just a look, it’s a multitude of aspects that compile to represent someone's life. Some people measure life with milestones, not necessarily how people perceive their appearances. However, some people still care and believe they can reverse the aging process by using anti-aging products and artificially altering their appearances with Botox.
     “I think anti-aging products are fake, I think they're just for people to convince themselves and comfort themselves into thinking they work,” Bartosik claimed.
     People have very polarized opinions on whether preventing aging is possible, and if it is morally right to pursue those avenues. While some people attempt to slow their physical aging, others insist that staying young at heart will achieve a greater life purpose and fulfillment. 
     “I think that if you feel youthful, you’d act youthful, and then people will perceive you as youthful. If you feel youthful, you could still look 80 years old,” Bartosik mentioned.
      The complexities of age are personal struggles for different people and their circumstances. Some have the means and the money to re-create their appearance, while others create that nostalgic feeling that flees them as they grow older.
     “I don’t think there’s any perfect age, because if you set one for yourself, you're not going to think it's great, because you’re going to find struggles in any age of the future,” Sydney concluded.

​