I’m going to depart from the curmudgeonly responses to this article. The Swift phenomenon is, to me, a remedy to the polarized, angry dominant culture of nihilism and lack of meaning and purpose. We are witnessing society-wide increased crime, drug addiction, loneliness and despair that has increased chronic illness and clinical anxiety and depressing in all age groups. As trite as it may sound, Taylor Swift brings people together in community; something our culture desperately needs. Kids need something to be optimistic about. Adults do, too.