Taylor Swift used to be the sort of pop star parents didn’t worry too much about. They allowed their kids to listen to her music, knowing that the lyrics were rather tame and that she didn’t stand for much except being a good singer-songwriter. Not anymore. Many parents have become tired of Taylor Swift, including her music and general place in pop culture.
But why? What has made parents annoyed with her?
A pop star kids see as a brand
Many parents claim that Taylor Swift doesn’t feel “just a singer” to their kids anymore. You see her name everywhere as a logo. It’s on shirts and water bottles, backpacks and playlists, even on school pep-rally posters. Kids learn to recognize her name as a brand in the same way they might recognize a cereal company’s brand in the grocery store.
It didn’t happen by accident. Her team has coordinated huge rollouts across streaming services and merch lines, as well as multiple variants of physical albums. They have turned Swift’s name into a kind of umbrella brand. Most parents remember when she was mostly a country singer with a guitar, and the switch to a complete retail-style presence feels overwhelming.
Nonstop marketing, variants, and limited drops
Speaking of variants, lots of parents are annoyed with how frequent and crowded Swift’s releases feel. There’s never just one or two versions of an album. The most recent release of The Life of a Showgirl included stacks of versions, with different vinyl colors and different bonus tracks. There were also special-edition covers and short-window preorders.
Altogether, these numerous releases made buying an album feel like collecting trading cards more than buying a record. Some music reviews even used the term “Taylor fatigue” to describe how fans were encouraged to grab multiple versions of the same album at once.
The problem with the Eras Tour
Unfortunately, the issue doesn’t stop with music. The Eras Tour, Swift’s record-breaking and career-spanning tour, included hotel packages and themed events in host cities. There were movie-theater releases and limited-run merchandise that sold out in minutes. According to experts, the tour’s economic impact was in the billions.
It was a bit too much for some parents. They could feel the pressure on their wallets from kids who want each new album or tour experience, just to keep up. No wonder parents are weary.
Explicit lyrics and mature themes in the new albums
The parents who grew up with early Swift albums are often surprised by her new songs. Many of her new albums, including The Tortured Poets Department and The Life of a Showgirl, contain explicit songs with curse words. Songs like “Wood” on Showgirl have clear sexual references that many parents, naturally, don’t want their children hearing about.
Swift’s songwriting has changed over the years, going from high school crushes to fame and complicated relationships. Sure, many older teens might connect with the lines. But parents with younger fans are frustrated because they now have to make sure the songs are safe first.
Parasocial bonds and role-model pressure
One rather serious issue is the way that many kids talk about Swift as though she’s a friend. It’s not unique to Swift, though, as parasocial bonds with celebrities happen across lots of fandoms. But it’s more noticeable when an artist is everywhere. Young fans quote Swift’s interviews and copy her style, talking about her as though they know her personally. They don’t.
But what is it that makes her so appealing to some fans? It’s her openness about personal struggles and body image that younger fans can relate to. Her lyrics about breakups give fans a sense that they know her, which also has an effect on how kids see themselves. Parents wish there was more space between their child’s identity and someone they’ve never met.
Taylor Swift has a level of visibility that adds to kids’ already-heavy screen habits. Quite a few families say they’re simply tired of one celebrity taking up that much digital real estate. Yes, they might not necessarily dislike her. But her music and her celebrity presence seem unavoidable right now, so many parents are just tired of her.