Gatekeeping, not Gaslighting

We all know the feeling of something the internet loves selling out too quickly. Beauty products and skin care have started to grow legs and run off the shelves before people can finish typing their names into the search bar.

The social media platform, “TikTok” has been growing rapidly since 2020. More recently, the term “gatekeeping” has taken over the platform. Influencers show off products that they personally love, giving their fanbase a first-hand look at how they make that influencer shine and glow. Every girl has someone that she looks up to, whether it be Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, or Alix Earle. When your role model tells you a product is worth buying, it's out of stock before you know it.

Ulta, a popular beauty supply store, markets these products as people see them online. Ulta recently added an “As seen on TikTok'' section to their store,making it easier to run to the godly, non-rare beauty products. However, there is always going to be the other side of TikTok, the one that loves to gatekeep. This side of TikTok is run by those who tend to keep amazing products a secret.

What do we do if we want our favorite product to stay in stores? We gatekeep it. We keep it as a hidden gem, that way the product can’t sell out as quickly or at all. Gatekeeping can stop the products from growing legs. But remember, hot girls don’t gatekeep and we certainly don’t gaslight.

Strike out,

Writer: Emily Brutnell

Editors: Madison Sloan and Ainsley McCullen

Saint Augustine