Elsa, Week 9 - The Power of Social Media
When did we decide that skinny jeans were out of style? Why did the y2k aesthetic become so popular again? Why does everyone want a Labubu or a Sonny Angel right now?
Most of what we see nowadays as “trendy” or “popular” can be associated with social media, with platforms like TikTok or Instagram drastically influencing the way we act, think, and feel in our everyday lives. These sites have grown to be a powerful driving force in our world, allowing anyone to share their story and connecting people from around the globe. We’ve seen movements like the Black Lives Matter campaign gain momentum and raise awareness for various social issues, content creators like Keith Lee helping to transform small businesses, and numerous other viral videos that have inspired creativity and changed others’ lives. Yet even with all of these positive changes, social media also comes with numerous challenges and consequences that can negatively impact the way we live our lives.
One of the most negative effects of social media is the rise in overconsumption, with the fast cycling of various trends and “shopping haul” videos increasing our buying habits and compelling us to continue to spend. Influencers have normalized the idea of purchasing multiple versions of the same products, and micro trends such as the Hockney dress or cow print clothes push consumers to buy items that are consistently thrown out or donated after just a few months simply because they have “gone out of style.” As the average consumer spending increases each year, the rise of the Project Pan 2025 challenge has highlighted the sheer amount of accumulated products that just go to waste in our homes.
Other trending social media challenges like “Devious Licks” or the “Benadryl Challenge” have also harmed many aspiring creators and those around them, with people feeling pressured to participate in these activities for the possibility of going “viral.” Yet with the amount of deaths and injuries that these seemingly harmless and amusing challenges have caused, it’s clear that the influence of these social media platforms has not all been positive.
It’s no argument that social media has the power to affect us in numerous ways, whether we’re actively on these sites or not. What’s important, however, is how we let ourselves become influenced by it, as social media definitely has the power to do both good and bad in our lives.
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Hello Elsa! I enjoyed how you spoke on social media in different ways. The way you first talked about Sonny Angels and Labubu was what caught my attention because, I too wonder as to why these got so much attention and why everyone wanted to start collecting them. Personally, I do not think Labubu should cost so much money, I do not understand why they can go up to more than a hundred dollars. I also liked that you discussed overconsumption because it is on an entirely different level now. I think fast fashion is also the leading cause for overconsumption. After Shein and Temu became popular, people think that it’s normal to buy Shein every other week. However, like you wrote about in your blog, social media has its good sides. This is just my experience, but when it comes to big things going around in the world, I get all my information from Tiktok. I do not watch the news or necessarily care to watch it, but my Tiktok for you page keeps me in the loop.
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