Earlier today, the Twitter account for Tavi Gevinson’s Rookie tweeted, “Growns who think teen tweets are dumb (#followateen) should see their fellow adults’. Today we dare to #followanadult. Join us won’t you?” What the hell does any of that mean? That’s what we’re here to explain, in three simple steps.
#1. DO NOT LITERALLY FOLLOW A TEEN, LIKE DOWN THE STREET OR INTO AN ALLEY. THAT IS CREEPY AND ILLEGAL. AGAIN: NO STALKING (“FOLLOWING”) TEENS.
#2. We’re all in agreement that teenagers are the worst, right? Right. If you were a happy 14-year-old, you’re probably a miserable 30-year-old, and vice versa. That, basically, is the concept of Follow a Teen: it’s Twitter tracking one teenager (or teenagers, if you’re up for that kind of responsibility) who does dumb teenager-y things, and occasionally update your middle-aged followers what your particular teen is up to. For instance, if your teen was @Yanoodles, you’d know that she thinks “Every high school is gay lol.” Lol, indeed.
The “movement” was founded by journalist David Thorpe in 2011 and has recently found a resurgence, thanks to the tireless work of BuzzFeed’s Katie Notopoulos. But the teens, they are pissed.
#3.
OH SNAP. Now the teens are following YOU. Clever (boys and) girl(s). You never know who’s watching…
Previous “OK…What the Hell” installments: “Harlem Shake,” Weird Twitter, “Thrift Shop,” Amanda Palmer.