7th Grade Pop Culture

[nicolewi]

My 12 year old has been home for the past, oh, 18 months, mostly watching shows/movies that are also okay for her little siblings. I'm wondering if she's...behind?...movie/show wise. She's in no hurry to grow up; not into makeup/boys, etc. at all yet. 

Today at school kids were talking about "Riverdale", but I looked it up and it sounds pretty grown-up to me. 

What is "cool" as far as shows and movies for your 7th graders?

[nsl]

My 8th grader loves sitcoms like Parks and Rec and the Good Place, plus the Mandalorian and the Simpsons. No clue if those are what his peers are watching, but I've found all of them to be middle school appropriate

[abs]

I would just take her lead. If she wants to watch Riverdale or whatever let her. If she doesn't that is perfectly okay! She has plenty of time for makeup/boys/more mature TV shows.

[nicolewi]

Oh, I'm not going to make her watch it! I am just trying to gauge what's typical for this age group.

[tacokick]

When I taught that age it was a real mixed bag. Some kids just weren’t to teen shows at all and some were obsessed.

I actually don’t think TV is as big of a deal to kids now that there are so many choices? They are a lot more niche with their choices now that they aren’t limited to TGIF and the mall. What’s big at one school/class doesn’t seem to be as universal anymore.

[DotAndBuzz]

I've got an 8th grader here, and I promise it's 100% fine if she's not watching more "mature" shows/pop culture. IMO, what is labeled as made for tweens/teens is often highly sexualized (and NOT in a sex positive, consent/empowerment perspective), and not really body positive, or a good model of healthy relationships. My 8th grader is really into anime - but be careful with this genre, because although it's animated, there are SUPER adult content series out there. And she's also really into Ladybug and Cat Noir, and My Little Pony.

But then on the other side of it, she's seen all the Marvel movies/shows, and I've watched Mean Girls and Clueless with her. And we're working our way through Arrested Development. However I watch those with her, because her sense of humor is FIERCE and amazingly dry, but I still want to talk to her about some of the stuff in those shows and movies. We've discussed "adult" language in movies, and how swearing isn't inherently bad, but you better make absolutely sure you know the meaning and context of what you're saying, and be prepared to accept the consequences of using mature language. The more mature content I talk about with her as it happens, and the quick pace of the shows/movies keeps the conversation/tone light and non-lecturing. It's actually helped us keep an open line of communication with her, since it's kind of our special "grown up" thing we can do together without her 10 year old sister.

I'm fortunate (and maybe abnormally so in this context), but she'll let me know if she's uncomfortable with something. She's texted me and asked me to pick her up from a friend's house when the movie was too sexually explicit for her comfort level. I don't know if it's because she's "immature," or if it's because she's been sheltered, or whatever, but I am ok with her waiting a few more years for that stuff.

ETA - that came off as more judgy than I intended. I don't care if other kids watch this stuff. Some of my kid's best friends do, and they seem to be totally fine, great kids, and great friends. I just....generally dislike the way teen girls have been traditionally portrayed in "teen" shows.

[cjcouple]

My 7th grade son is into Manga/Anime. A few girls in class are as well. Some of it can be mature so I just make sure I check parents guides online before allowing it. Some are a no. I don't think its popular but there are some with the same interests.

[SusanBAnthony]

I have a 6th and 8th grader.

Parks and rec, the office, the it crowd, a ton of cooking shows, pokemon..... Total mixed bag.

[mcppalmbeach]

Totally agree with above that it doesn’t seem like there is an “it” show.there’s just so many diverse options out there. It’s definitely more important to be looped into the you tube/TikTok scene and be current with sports. My 7th grader still watches regular Disney channel shows mixed in with sports, Netflix favorites like stranger things and cobra Kai. He’s not gotten too into more adult tv shows besides some young Sheldon.

[erbear]

My 7th grader is obsessed with Ted Lasso. She does not like the teenage shows that lots of her peers watch. She also doesn't have a phone and hates tik tok, and she's 1000% ok with all of this.

[devonpow]

I have a 9th grader. It’s all tik tok, music, YouTube . I guess over the last few years he and friends were into Stranger Things, The Good Place…Ted Lasso is currently big in his group.

[jinkies]

I agree with the posts above that being looped into popular YouTubers and TikToks is more important to keep up with pop culture references.

My 8th grader rarely watches tv. Hes usually on YouTube. Or he might watch movies on Netflix but honestly his choices are usually about cars (I've lost track of how much he's watched Ford vs Ferrari) and not chosen for their general popularity.

He doesn't have TikTok, but always seems up to date on what's going on there, so I think he might be watching compilations on YouTube?

[rootbeerfloat]

Mine watch a lot of anime. Others they've enjoyed: Stranger Things, The Good Place, Brooklyn 99, Community. We also watch all the Marvel shows as a family. DD likes baking/cooking shows, too.

[1yeartogo]

I mean I’ve watched Riverdale and it’s complete soapy trash but there are like S/M references and serial killer theme is huge…it honestly not something I would want my middle schooler to see. I would think it’s geared to 16+.

[Bad Dingo]

My 9th grader loves everything from that Gumball show to John Oliver but would have zero interest in Riverdale or a similar show. I feel like there really isn't a pop culture norm anymore because there is just so much entertainment available.

[memenee]

The Office, Stranger Things

[nancybotwin]

FWIW I think my 11 year old/6th grader is like yours. She loves Ladybug and Cat Noir and watches America’s Got Talent with DH (it’s their thing) and otherwise watches YouTube, shows about the making of Harry Potter/Ladybug and other shows that are appropriate also for her little siblings.