In an era where social media has profoundly infiltrated our daily lives, we are confronted with an inquiry that targets to what extent online social networks are responsible for the decisions we make, from what we buy to how we see ourselves. With such an abundant flow of information on socials, genuine understanding feels elusive, baffling, and fugacious. However, what remains unshakable is that social media platforms act as a powerful catalyst to tell us who we are and who we’d like to be. It comes at us from multiple angles, for that is a bubble with various facets that need addressing, whispering beauty standards, philosophies, conspiracies, greed, and overall fostering a loop that no matter how much you feed it, it still acts as an insatiable desire for more.
This never-ending hunger, however, is not inherently a negative thing. When interpreted through the lens of ambition and aspiration, it can be a tremendous force for personal and professional growth. Rather than designating comparison as a currency, social media users can go for analyzing actual currencies, such as crypto. Although analyzing crypto coin prices is not poised to make you rich, it can definitely be a powerful ally. Furthermore, this article seeks to examine how deeply social media influences the construction of identity, reinforces cognitive biases, and contributes to the architecture of surveillance capitalism.
Are Trends Dictators Of Taste?
At their core, trends are collective movements that start small as a niche. From there, trends grow exponentially, for countless individuals are ready to adopt them with fervor and then follow them as faithful shadows. Whether it is matcha, leopard print, Crocs, or vintage Isabel Marant shoes, beneath every trend lies the concept of social proof, a mental model that explains why, under episodes of uncertainty, we look to others for answers, expecting them to tell us how we should behave. Social proof is a psychological and social phenomenon where people make decisions based on the actions and behaviors of others, acting as a shortcut for reducing potential risks and providing reassurance. Poetically, social proof is the quiet chorus that soothes people’s longing to belong, whispering to the fragile parts of them, “You are not alone.”
Furthermore, social platforms are potentially democratizing trendsetting for anyone with a Wi-Fi connection, which could ignite a global movement overnight. Take the rise of meme coins, for example. What started as a mere satirical commentary has merged into a pioneering market vertical accountable for heightened capital flows and significant institutional attention. No fancy organization orchestrated this. It was entirely the product of social media platforms. Technically, trends keep us in a constant state of consumption, telling us whether to buy something or not. They capitalize on planned obsolesce, fostering the illusion of scarcity to make us act fast. While there is nothing substantially wrong with indulging oneself in trends, a quiet concern lingers: are we genuinely interested in the things we buy, or are we merely keeping pace with a world that never stops moving?
Influencers As Decision Architects
Influencers’ thoughtfully chosen filters and idealized versions of life have created quite a false impression of what life is like for others, as if while you’re struggling to find the money for your cat’s food, they’re having an appointment at Hermes to buy their first Birkin bag. The effect of comparison and pressure on personal standards spreads across all spheres, including career, relationship, appearance, and pastimes, highlighting the tendency to idealize reality as a mirror that distorts rather than reflects. While it’s an exaggeration to say influencers are the architects of our decisions, they do play a staggering role in shaping consumer behavior and purchasing decisions. Consequently, the right question to ask would not be whether we have ever felt the urge to purchase something after watching a captivating video where an influencer raves about a new product but how many times we did that.
Digital Validation And The Fear Of Missing Out
Social pressure is no longer a novel phenomenon; it is a cruel reality that takes the form of endless questions as to “What others will say?” and “Do I look good enough?” internalizing unrealistic expectations as life-guiding principles. As social media became more widespread, the nuance of “society” has expanded tremendously, with likes, comments, and shares becoming the new currency for social validation. Digital interactions are now determining our self-worth and behavior, making us sound hilarious when talking about freedom and claiming to be more independent than ever. May we ask: Where does freedom situate itself, on the right or the left of social approval? Is it nestled in applause or peaceful solitude? Aren’t we all dressing freely in the garments of choice, yet so much measure it by how well it fits in? Quite interesting, right?
Furthermore, it has been commonly accepted that individuals who grapple with deficits in psychological well-being are being drawn to social networks due to the fear of missing out (FOMO). This state of anxiety is caused by the perception that one’s possession of something, whether an experience or object, is what grants meaning, status, and identity. For that reason, a quiet panic arises from the imagined richness of what others seem to hold. Consequently, in this illusion, every missed social media opportunity becomes a measurement of our worth, triggering us into scrolling, chasing, and consuming out of fear that life is happening somewhere else, without us.
Are We Choosing, Or Are We Being Chosen?
As much as we like to believe our thumbs are in control, algorithms learn faster than we learn ourselves, serving us not what we need but more of what keeps us needing. While we log on in search of connection and out of the desire to be seen, heard, and valued, social media takes the place of real life, not by force, but with seduction. We so often trade eye-contact for eye-catching and conversations for captions, shrinking to the size of a screen and calling it connection.
