As someone who has been interested in the social sciences with a preference for propaganda studies, I find these kinds of stories as attempts by the mass media to effectively social engineer society through entertainment. The consistent com-modification of humans as brand-able products obfuscates any form of natural self-identification through individual experiences and personal interaction, as opposed to mass produced, collectivized socialization and identify formation through corporate channels. When I see these stories I think of the genius of Edward Bernays and the astute observations by Naomi Klein especially her work, No Logo.
In the book, fast Food Nation, mega fast food giant, McDonald's marketing gurus correctly identified children, especially the young as consumer trainees. Baby branding as the author of the article indicates is just another facet of this evolution in marketing in which human beings, especially children are malleable commodities. This has the effect of devolving the human species by diminishing identification as sovereign entities, capable of self realization, unique thoughts and actions as well as dissent or non-complicit behavior. In fact, it can be argued that com-modification leads to control through acceptance of the perception that human thought and action is a purchasable asset which in essence is what branding is all about. In the end, this would appear as a natural progression of our complicity and overly consumer driven mass materialism which has more to do with branding and human group identification then any kind of self identification through unique features or characteristics.
Ironically, Steemit as a platform is also a contributing factor as social media helps to perpetuate what more main stream channels promote. Steemit just individualizes it by offering the monetization rewards, hence the platform itself is equally guilty and in effect, useless at countering the long term strategic marketing effects.
Reference:
Original Yahoo Article: Meet the six-year-old who has been hailed the 'most beautiful girl in the world https://in.news.yahoo.com/meet-six-year-old-hailed-beautiful-girl-world-130518031.html
Image Yahoo Front page: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/russian-girl-hailed-apos-most-161711067.html
Image: thylaneblondeau Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thylaneblondeau/