Multiple state-run media outlets in China are slamming a concerning fashion trend aimed at children, known as “hot kids style.”
The trend reportedly involves the promotion of clothing styles on social media platforms that raise worries about the sexualization of minors.
Advertisements for “hot kids style” clothing items like microskirts, backless shirts, and crop tops have been under fire for portraying children in suggestive poses and expressions on e-commerce and social media platforms.
Commentaries from outlets such as the People’s Daily, Legal Daily, and Beijing News have expressed concern about the negative impact on children’s well-being.
Experts warn that such trends may lead to potential legal consequences for companies selling and promoting these clothes, as well as parents who share pictures of their children dressed provocatively for attention.
The “hot kids style” trend on social media seems to contradict the primary principle of prioritizing comfort in children’s clothing.
Kindergarten students have reportedly been affected by this trend, with some expressing a desire to wear mini-skirts and seeking attention at an exceptionally young age.
The phrase “hot milk style” (奶辣风) emerged as a popular fashion term in China, denoting sexualized or provocative clothing targeted at children and toddlers.https://t.co/vnd3vfnHjc pic.twitter.com/RqDtxBl5ID— RADII (@RADII_Media) July 26, 2023
Debate against this trend has erupted on various social media platforms, with many expressing outrage that “hot kids style” has become a buzzword for children’s clothing online.
Videos critiquing these trends have raised questions about whether it is a matter of minors having the freedom to dress as they want or a concerning moral issue.
“Don’t you think the buzzword ‘hot kids style’ goes hand-in-hand with pedophilia? You may think your kids are young. But the bad guys don’t care if your kids are young,” one user said on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform.
The People’s Daily commentary criticized merchants and parents for using children to attract more online traffic.
“More revealing dresses and a stronger sense of contrast means a greater possibility of attracting attention. The question is, what do the children get out of it?” it lamented.
The Legal Daily noted that the trend is silently influencing the aesthetic sense of children.
“It can actually prematurely trigger psychological development in children and is detrimental to their overall physical and mental well-being,” the publication wrote, quoting lawyer Ni Na’s statement, a partner at Beijing Yinghe Law Firm.
