Does our generation feel obliged to keep up with media trends?

Trends online mostly found on TikTok and Instagram are what is keeping social media sustainable and addictive. Media trends such as certain makeup routines, food, hairstyles, fashion can impact us both positively and negatively but always has us in a constant cycle of consumerism.  

Positive impacts of media trends are that it keeps our society going and encourages similar interests leading to convocation. Not only does it feed our high-end companies, but it also fulfils our interests and entertainment.  

However, this could also be toxic as it challenges people to feel the need to copy and keep up with others online instead of perusing their own choices, exposing their identities. Moreover, as many younger audiences are now online too, they are easily influenced to keep up with trends and buy latest things out of their age range e.g. ‘Sephora kids.’ This is an example of young kids, typically aged round 8-12, feeling the need to buy skincare products and makeup to fit in with older people online. Therefore, consumerism is the negative impact of media trends leading to brands exploiting consumers through the usage of young people online, and damagingly impacts young peoples mental health due to the upkeeping of false facades online.  

To conclude, the way media trends are interpreted depends on the individual who accesses the posts and the way personalised algorithm leads to addictive consumption, either positively or negatively. This is a pressure in teenagers today as it idolises things to be considered as ‘normal’ and what we should wear, eat, etc.