Trends aren’t something new; as long as humans have roamed this earth, people have wanted to be something other than what they are and wanted to acquire things that would help them be part of something bigger. The Merriam dictionary defines trends as “a prevailing tendency or inclination or a current style or preference.” Nevertheless, chances are if you have ever been online or on any social media platform, you know what a trend is. You might have participated in some yourself.. Drawing a parallel to the warning labels on cigarette boxes, which inform users about potential side effects, raising awareness about the detrimental effects of social media trends can empower individuals to make informed decisions. By sharing experiences of negative feelings and distorted self-image caused by these trends, we can shed light on their adverse effects and encourage a more critical approach to social media consumption.
Stanley cups: In late 2023, news spread like wildfire across social media about the remarkable survival of a Stanley Cup amid a car fire. This captivating story captured the attention of a younger audience, prompting a newfound appreciation for the quality of the Stanley Cup and driving a surge in sales growth for the company. The momentum only accelerated during the Christmas season, propelling the company’s profits to surpass expectations for the year. However, the enthusiasm surrounding this trend also brought forth questions about its appropriateness, particularly regarding the purchase of a thermos priced at over $100. Teenagers became enamored with this new trend, placing pressure on their parents to acquire the coveted Stanley Cups. Yet, not every parent has the means to indulge their children with such luxury items, leading to conflicts and tensions within parent-teenager relationships. This situation highlights the concept of relative deprivation, where teenagers feel a sense of lacking compared to their peers who can obtain the desired Stanley Cups while they are unable to do so. Consequently, teenagers may experience a decline in self-esteem as they perceive themselves as inferior due to their financial circumstances. However, it begs the question: Should the value of our self-esteem be determined by material possessions, or should it be rooted in the inherent worth and dignity of each individual?
Mob-wife aesthetic: The influence of popular media, particularly HBO Max’s potential planting of the Mob-wife aesthetic through shows like The Sopranos, adds another layer to the conversation about the authenticity of aesthetic trends. It is bold, expressive, and, interestingly, has sparked reactions from the Italian community. This trend dangerously distorts perceptions, portraying mafia attitudes as romantic and affectionate towards those close to them. Furthermore, it normalizes and even romanticizes domestic violence and marital rape, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. The glamorous lifestyle and fashion associated with the mafia also glamourize illegal activities such as money laundering, as long as one attains wealth. This trend fosters ingratitude towards one’s current lifestyle and encourages the devaluation of partners’ efforts and personalities.
Clean girl aesthetic: It started with just trying to look put together but was soon taken over by companies trying to portray an image. As this aesthetic grew, it pushed out the people it had built its ideologies on which were the women of colour who were already oiling their hair and wearing hoops. Additionally, it started to become more inaccessible, and now something that was supposed to be built on self-care became another marketing scheme. The connection between consumerism and self-care became unmistakable, as individuals chase after the perfect beige sets, redecorate apartments for a ‘simple’ and neutral look, and frame everyday activities like drinking matcha or following a skincare routine as acts of self-care. The question lingers though: does buying into this aesthetic truly translate to genuine self-care, or is it merely a commodified version of wellness?
Being slim is being beautiful: Imagine waking up every morning, only to face a mirror that reflects self-degradation and undermines your inherent worth. This disturbing trend, originating from Korea where the beauty standard dictates a weight of 45 kilograms, has permeated social media platforms. Models, predominantly underweight, flood these platforms with videos, garnering likes and perpetuating the misconception that weight defines beauty. The consequences of this trend are profound and alarming, particularly its correlation with the development of anorexia nervosa among young adults and teenagers. Those afflicted with this debilitating disorder resort to overexercise and undereating, even when they are already dangerously underweight and physically weak. Furthermore, it fosters a damaging mindset wherein individuals begin to devalue the beauty of their partners, equating slimness with attractiveness.
The concept of cool-hunting and youth fetishism can result in a hyper-focused categorization that, according to Le, may lead to self-surveillance among individuals. Are they driven by a need for validation on social media, or is it a manifestation of societal pressures to conform to narrow standards of beauty and desirability? Additionally, these behaviours may stem from a desire to assert agency and identity in a world that often seeks to objectify and commodify individuals, particularly young women.