This is the sweet spot. Older teens don't just follow trends—they set them. They're the ones who decide which songs blow up on Spotify, which Netflix series become appointment viewing, and which influencers cross over from niche fame to mainstream recognition. By this age, media literacy has sharpened considerably. They can spot a sponsored post from three scrolls away, they understand how algorithms manipulate their attention, and they're increasingly skeptical of corporate attempts to "market" to them.
: Viral algorithms allow everyday creators to reach millions overnight.