This just makes me so sad. My cousin just turned eleven a few days ago and started middle school. She asked me to watch an episode of Ant Farm with her, and I had never heard of it before. About a few minutes in to the show she turned to me and said she was nervous because she didn't think she was doing all the things a "teenager in middle school" was supposed to do. I asked her what that meant and she said that the girl China in the show as well as every other Disney star in shows like Austin & Alley, Jessie, ect. all want to be famous and they all date boys. She was worried because she doesn't want to be a famous singer and she doesn't want to date any boys yet.
It is so sad that every reality show like this promotes that being famous and dating is even acceptable at that age. I miss episodes of Lizzie McGuire where her biggest problems were surviving school. I am not saying that shows shouldn't have characters with aspirations or crushes, but there is no reason every character has to be a middle schooler or young high schooler that goes out to concerts on dates and sings.
It is so sad that every reality show like this promotes that being famous and dating is even acceptable at that age. I miss episodes of Lizzie McGuire where her biggest problems were surviving school. I am not saying that shows shouldn't have characters with aspirations or crushes, but there is no reason every character has to be a middle schooler or young high schooler that goes out to concerts on dates and sings.