I think the worst thing I did as a little kid was sneakily watching Disney Channel at my friend’s house. I was absolutely enthralled with Disney. 

Even now I love rewatching iconic shows such as Hannah Montana, KC Undercover, Jessie, and the best one, Wizards Of Waverly Place. Disney movies are also top-notch; I mean, Camp Rock, Princess Protection Program, and Teen Beach Movie are some of my all-time favorites. 

But watching the latest Disney movies does not give off the same vibes. For example, I remember Disney being rather stingy when it came to kissing in both shows and movies, but watching their new shows such as Doogie Kamealoha M.D. the characters are making out at least once every episode and talking about kissing with tongue.

Disney’s latest movie, The Prom Pact, also shows how Disney is maturing. For one, when I was watching it, I found myself getting rather bored because I had already watched basically the same plot unfurl in Netflix’s He’s All That. I won’t spoil anything else, but the movie did not feel like Disney. 

Disney just isn’t “Disney-ing” anymore, and because of that, kids aren’t being kids anymore. 

I know I’m not the only person who has noticed that today’s kids are growing up much quicker than I feel my fellow peers and I did. This is most definitely because of their early exposure to social media and the movies and tv shows they are watching. Kids’ minds are like sponges: they soak up everything they see and hear. Disney is supposed to be a safe place for kids and a streaming service that parents don’t have to constantly monitor. 

That is not—I feel—Disney is anymore. Movies like The Prom Pact, that have a more mature message and are basically a remake of other more mature movies, show how Disney is starting to become a platform parents may have to keep a closer eye on. 

Disney should be keeping kids down to earth and not following the trend of growing up faster. I’m not trying to sound like an old grandma talking about things from back in my day and how everything about our generation sucks, but still, kids should be kids, and they should act like kids.

If this is Disney trying to reach an older audience, they need to stop. Kids are their main audience and will most likely have access to their new shows with makeout scenes and Netflix plots, so please, focus on the kids. 

Old Disney is clearly superior because it aimed for the right audience (kids and preteens); new Disney should be looking into its past and taking notes.