Teen Vogue, once a beacon of progressive feminist journalism, has effectively ceased to exist as an independent publication. In 2016, the magazine made headlines with its scathing editorial about Donald Trump's presidency, "Gaslighting America," which garnered over 1.3 million hits and marked a turning point in the publication's shift towards more serious politics coverage.
Over the years, Teen Vogue deepened its focus on issues like identity, politics, and social justice, becoming an unlikely voice for radical feminism within Condé Nast's corporate structure. However, as Trump returned to power, Teen Vogue's future became increasingly uncertain.
In recent months, Condé Nast announced that it would be folding Teen Vogue into its flagship property, Vogue, citing the need for a "more unified reader experience" across titles. While the company claimed that Teen Vogue would retain its unique editorial identity and mission, many staff members were laid off, including six unionized employees who were fired without explanation.
Critics argue that this decision was driven by business concerns rather than politics, with Condé Nast's HR head being fired after questioning the layoffs, prompting a pledge from New York's attorney general to take action. The company claimed that changes were made solely for economic reasons, but many see this as a veiled attempt to silence progressive voices.
The demise of Teen Vogue has significant implications for young people, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community and women who are eager for information on social justice issues. As Shara Crookston, associate professor of women's and gender studies at the University of Toledo, noted, "Young girls are going to have less options for media content that helps them explore different aspects of their life."
In contrast to the conservative "womanosphere" that has emerged in response to Trump's presidency, a new generation of young people is turning to feminist publications like Substack and independent voices on social media to stay informed about issues affecting their lives.
As Lex McMenamin, a former Teen Vogue staffer, put it, "Feminist media is not dead. Young people are so smart... Our readers will always exist." The loss of Teen Vogue serves as a stark reminder that the erosion of progressive journalism has far-reaching consequences for marginalized communities and the next generation of leaders who need to be informed about social justice issues.
Over the years, Teen Vogue deepened its focus on issues like identity, politics, and social justice, becoming an unlikely voice for radical feminism within Condé Nast's corporate structure. However, as Trump returned to power, Teen Vogue's future became increasingly uncertain.
In recent months, Condé Nast announced that it would be folding Teen Vogue into its flagship property, Vogue, citing the need for a "more unified reader experience" across titles. While the company claimed that Teen Vogue would retain its unique editorial identity and mission, many staff members were laid off, including six unionized employees who were fired without explanation.
Critics argue that this decision was driven by business concerns rather than politics, with Condé Nast's HR head being fired after questioning the layoffs, prompting a pledge from New York's attorney general to take action. The company claimed that changes were made solely for economic reasons, but many see this as a veiled attempt to silence progressive voices.
The demise of Teen Vogue has significant implications for young people, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community and women who are eager for information on social justice issues. As Shara Crookston, associate professor of women's and gender studies at the University of Toledo, noted, "Young girls are going to have less options for media content that helps them explore different aspects of their life."
In contrast to the conservative "womanosphere" that has emerged in response to Trump's presidency, a new generation of young people is turning to feminist publications like Substack and independent voices on social media to stay informed about issues affecting their lives.
As Lex McMenamin, a former Teen Vogue staffer, put it, "Feminist media is not dead. Young people are so smart... Our readers will always exist." The loss of Teen Vogue serves as a stark reminder that the erosion of progressive journalism has far-reaching consequences for marginalized communities and the next generation of leaders who need to be informed about social justice issues.
teen vogue used to be like, super outspoken & bold in its views... now it's just another 'vogue' title under condé nast. they're trying to say it'll stay the same but idk how that's possible w/ all these layoffs 
some ppl think it's a cash grab to shut down an outlet that was giving voice to so many marginalized folks 
i mean, what's next? is condé nast just gonna try to water down their 'feminist' cred too 
anyway, it seems like young ppl are finding ways to fill the void... substack & all those social media voices might be the future of feminist journalism 
I'm really sad to hear that Teen Vogue is basically gone 
. It was like, my go-to source for all things feminist and empowering 
. I remember reading their articles and feeling like I was finally seeing myself in the news 
. Now it feels like there's a huge void left behind 
. I'm so worried about what this means for young girls who need to see themselves represented in media 
. Will they just be forced to seek out independent voices online instead? It feels like we're losing so much 
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. It's like, what are we even doing? This isn't just about Teen Vogue, it's about the future of journalism as a whole 
.
. It's not going to be easy, but I'm willing to fight for it 
.
it's not just about the money, it's about who gets to shape the narrative and what information makes it to the masses 
it feels like we're losing a crucial platform for young people to learn and grow, especially in the LGBTQ+ community 
and now they've got these new independent voices online trying to fill the gap, but it's just not the same as having a dedicated publication with their own unique perspective 
.
. We can't rely on one platform or publication to speak for us; we need to create our own spaces for discussion, education, and empowerment.
. Young people are finding new ways to connect with each other and with the issues they care about - whether through online communities, social media platforms, or local organizations.
. We need to support each other, amplify each other's voices, and fight for the kind of media that reflects our values and promotes positive change 
Condé Nast needs to explain themselves tbh 
. They did some really good work in covering identity and politics, especially for the younger crowd. But I guess Condé Nast just couldn't make it work anymore? It's weird that they're folding it into Vogue now, like it'll just magically fit in with the rest of the brand... 
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. It's so sad to see a publication that once thrived under Trump's presidency being silenced now 
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. There are still so many amazing feminist publications out there, like Substack and independent voices on social media 
. Young people are still finding ways to stay informed and engaged on the issues that matter most to them 
. I'm glad there are still other options out there like substack and independent voices on social media 
, but it's sad that we lost teen vogue in the process 
, but I'm not buying it... 6 unionized employees fired without a reason? That's some shady corporate behavior 
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And six unionized employees gettin' fired without explainin'? That's straight-up unacceptable! 
. They weren't afraid to speak out and give a platform to young people who wanted to make a difference. Now, it seems like those voices are being silenced 
this is like such a huge bummer!!! I used to love reading Teen Vogue online 
especially when they'd feature interviews with female activists and celebrities fighting for LGBTQ+ rights 
I mean, we know feminist media isn't dead, Lex is right, our readers will always exist 
but still, it's hard not to feel a little disheartened that Condé Nast would just shut down this iconic brand without even trying to find a way to keep it alive 
I'm keeping an eye on these indie publications like Substack, they're the real MVPs 