the buzz log

How many times have you seen a kid coming out of Hot Topic dressed in full “emo wear” and thought to yourself, “There outta be a law.” Well, Russia’s way ahead of you.

The country is considering “banning” emo clothes and music because it is dangerous to teens. According to Current, “everything from websites to dressing in emo attire will be prosecuted.”

NME.com goes into more detail. Due to fears that emo may contribute to teen depression and suicide, lawmakers are formulating legislation that would “heavily regulate” emo websites and “ban emo and goth dress style in schools and government buildings.” Believe it or not, the bill is expected to pass.

We were under the impression that emo was passé. However, the Search data says otherwise. Lookups on the guyliner-wearing, crusty hair-sporting, black t-shirt-wearing music genre are twice as high as they were two years ago. Additionally, emo-light posterboys Fall Out Boy continue to score in Search.

Whether banning emo is a logical way to help troubled teens, we don’t know. But we do know this. If this law stops just one kid from wearing guyliner, it will have all been worth it.