As media continues to evolve and expand over the years, how people observe trends and stay updated on what’s happening across various platforms has changed. This causes many younger generations to participate in extreme “consumer culture”. Consumer culture is a culture where the focus is on consumption, particularly the purchase and enjoyment of goods to shape lifestyles. Trends are the most popular things at the time and change constantly. Something at EHS that students and teachers always see is the change of water bottles. Through the last 3 years, students have seen many different water bottles; like Hydroflask, Stanley, Owala, and now Hydrojugs.
Every day, new things become trends, like simple and plain hoodie sets. Many new companies that are trying to grow use media, like TikTok and Instagram to grow and “blow up.” Freshman Josie Naill said, “I feel that social media has a large influence on what I purchase. I feel I do this because I want to be caught up on the trends and fit in with the new styles. Not only do I like to follow the trends but staying up on them makes me feel like I’m more aware of what is in right now and what is out.”
Trends tend to come and go within days, instantly causing different things to be “in” or “out.” Media influencers are a big cause for this. If someone sees something on TikTok or YouTube that goes viral, expect to see it in your school the next day. Naill said, “Trends change so fast because if one person says something or does something, everyone else will change everything they are doing to fit in.”
Trends have also affected younger generations. All of the younger ages, mainly girls, want to be like the 20-year-old influencers they see on social media. Naill said, “Trends have affected the younger generations, like the 8-year-olds doing full faces of makeup and skincare, they want to fit in just like everyone else.” Many parents are against media for younger ages but it’s evading. Teacher Kendra Hixon said, “I see it even with my kid. He sees the big kids with it, so he thinks he has to have it.”
Trends have also been known to always come back around. Low-rise jeans, cheetah print, retro Adidas, and crimped hair are all extremely popular right now. Hixon said, “It’s a pot. It stores around. You’ll see it coming back. Now I’m seeing you guys wearing stuff that we were in the 2000s or 90’s.” Many people get very nostalgic when they see their kids wearing what they used to have.
Media has changed the ways people see these products and styles. Hixon said, “Anybody would see the Nike shoes on commercial and go, ‘Oh I have to have this and this.’” TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have been the main platforms where kids and teens to get their styles and products. If they see someone they love and look up to have these products, use or wear these items, they get them, and then young kids that look up to them have to have those same products, and it becomes a never-ending cycle.
Throughout the years, trends have changed every day. From stanleys, to makeup, to hoodies the evolution of what people buy is a never-ending cycle that will never end. Expect to see new trends to come right around the corner, and a new water bottle trend.