LUXURY IN MINIATURE /Miekley: Social networks are influencing teenagers

2026-07-06 20:33:00, Sociale CNA

Luxury cars, expensive clothes and expensive accessories are becoming increasingly present at prom and graduation parties. Beyond appearance, specialists raise concerns that this trend is also related to the influence that social networks exert on young people, especially at an age when they are searching for identity and acceptance from others.

In an interview with CNA TV, psychologist Bona Miekley said that the phenomenon of luxury on display at mini-prom parties is deeper than it seems at first glance. According to her, the age of 13–15 is an important transitional period, during which adolescents are searching for their identity and are easily influenced by the environment that surrounds them.

According to psychologist Bona Miekley, the lack of constant communication between parents and children causes many teenagers to seek validation and role models from society or social networks.

In an effort to gain attention, likes, and followers, they often create false standards for success and beauty, linking personal worth to the image they present to others.

" It definitely has a huge impact. I know many families where, because they can't afford to buy their daughters a beautiful dress for their mini-prom or even the prom, they don't allow their daughter to come, to go to such a party. And this has a big impact on a girl or a boy. Also, something else is that there are other families that, given the opportunities they have, can buy a beautiful dress for their daughter or even a suit for their son, but the girl feels like she's not at that right level with her peers. So even at the moment she goes to a mini-prom, she feels like she's... that she's not the same as others, that she doesn't think she's beautiful, that she doesn't have the right dress, that her dress didn't cost as much as others, and no matter how much this girl or boy goes to such a party, deep down in her heart she feels unfulfilled. That's why it's very important for parents today to understand that when they take their children to a mini-prom, to a certain party, to teach their children that today is not celebrating the brand, it is not celebrating their external beauty, it is celebrating their effort. It is celebrating the beginning of the fulfillment of their dreams in their lives. For their parents to have a party before taking their child to a party, and to tell the child, even with a card, even with a small gift, even with something written where they tell their child that, 'Mommy is proud of you, daddy is very proud of you.' That we are happy that you have finished this journey and are this beautiful girl, beautiful inside out, or this strong boy in spirit, in heart, but also in body, why not. So, messages like that that remain," she said./CNA