Whether it be Labubus, Dubai chocolate, Rare Beauty blush, or Feastibles, you’ve heard about the crazes, and it’s likely you’re a part of at least one (if not you’re officially unc). Food, fashion, makeup, and our everyday vocabulary as Gen Z has become the product of exposure, specifically within social media engagement. We gathered data from our student body regarding how easily influenced they are, finding that TikTok Shop is the most frequent vendor to these impressionable minds, proving how powerful a 30 second clip can be. It’s not just products either; slang spreads just as quickly. A word can go from unheard-of to unavoidable in a matter of days, slipping into classrooms, hallways, and group chats. The cycle is simple: see it online, watch it blow up, then feel like you need to join in. Sometimes it’s worth it, like finding a new favorite snack or product. Other times it’s just a passing fad that ends up shoved in the closet or abandoned in your Notes app. So, how easily influenced are you? The next time you find yourself adding that “must-have” to your cart, or dropping a new slang term without thinking, remember, you might not be as original as you think.
Looking through your wardrobe, there is a high chance, whether consciously or subconsciously, that you are following trends. Although the majority of students (57.8%) voted “no” for purchasing a piece of clothing based on something that they saw on social media, “yes” still had a significant amount of votes as well. Specific responses about the items and influencers include: “A propeller hat, I had a 3 dollar TikTok shop coupon and I saw it on a video” and a “bucket hat, idk I think like Addison Rae in 2020.” In addition, many students buy makeup based on what’s trending, such as, “Dior blush, I kept seeing like coquette stuff and I thought it would be really Gossip Girl if i got it [because] it’s Dior” and a “Glossier lip gloss” influenced by Sophia Laforteza, a member of the rising girl group Katseye. From music to television shows to famous icons, it is clear that social media can have a profound effect on one’s style. Participation in seasonal consumerism like, “back to school hauls”, promotes the idea that it’s normal to spend thousands of dollars on clothes and items. It can make one feel like they need to buy more to fit in with the latest trends, such as Labubus.
Miscellaneous times were a popular purchase among students, most likely for their cheap costs through social media. Some of my favorite responses include “I bought 12 pens, 1 dragon, 1 Rubiks cube, 6 cord holders, 1 tape measure, I had a lot of 3 dollar coupons and those were the first things I saw for less than 3,” “a flag with the famous quote said by Ricky Bobby’s father ‘if you’re not first, you’re last’ [on] tiktok for 99 cents,” and a “Mr. Beast box [from] Zaxbys.”
As filters get more and more realistic, it gets harder to tell what is real or fake. The appearance of influencers is often heavily filtered and augmented, but the effect on teens’ mental health is still sizable because often they do not know the extent of how “fake” the influencer’s appearance actually is. Viewing photo after photo of filtered colors, faces, and bodies can create a belief that the appearance is normal and should be achieved in order to be liked by others. Comparison is a growing problem for the younger generation, for both girls and boys. Responses to how students changed themselves after viewing social media generally included altering their hairstyles, style, weight loss, or gaining muscle. One of my favorite responses is, “When I was about 7 or so, I was really into Minecraft youtubers and I dyed my hair blue for a summer to look like DanTDM.”
In addition to buying items, many students got influenced in other ways, such as 79.3% of students reported starting to listen to a certain song or album based on something that they saw on social media. 72.4% of students have been tempted to purchase an item and 81% say certain phrases or words because of what they saw on social media. 62.9% of students have been influenced by someone’s opinion or fact, whether proven reliable or not, on social media. Finally, 62.1% participated in an activity or trend based on something that they saw on social media. Trends that we included (as seen in the following graph) are “VSCO/Hydroflasks”the “Indie phase (2020),” “aesthetics,” “cottagecore,” “downloading/playing Clash Royale/Fortnite,” “playing Grow a Garden” (on Roblox), “reading feminist literature in a performative way,””doing a mukbang,” “office siren style,” “brat summer”, and “other.”
Robin Stern (2024) addresses the reasons behind the recent interest in influencers for young adults and children, “[a]fter experiencing uniquely volatile childhoods characterized by political polarization, a global pandemic, and an epidemic of loneliness, it is perhaps no wonder teens are finding comfort in 24/7 access to their favorite influencers.” The admiration that influencers receive shows young children and adults that their behavior is acceptable, even if it really isn’t. Children and teens consume social media daily, and the people that they interact with may not encourage the right thing, such as promoting violence or general misconduct. To the still developing mind of these children and teens, it might subconsciously persuade them to think that this behavior is okay. Not only can influencers promote unhealthy behaviors, but also affect mental health as well, especially for young girls. As filters get more and more realistic, it gets harder to tell what is real or fake. The appearance of influencers is often heavily filtered and augmented, but the effect on teens’ mental health is still sizable because often they do not know the extent of how “fake” the influencer’s appearance actually is. Viewing photo after photo of filtered colors, faces, and bodies can create a belief that the appearance is normal and should be achieved in order to be liked by others. Comparison is a growing problem for the younger generation, for both girls and boys. Moreover, influencers can contribute to the “loneliness epidemic” as young individuals see their seemingly “perfect” lives and think this is how their life should be as well, leading them to think that they are doing something wrong or that their life is boring compared to the influencer’s. Relationships can be affected by social media consumption and influencers, as teens can get influenced by seeing “perfect” romantic relationships and friendships. Watching influencers instead of indulging in real social interactions can affect all relationships. Overall, the data sheds light on the extent to which students at Academic Magnet are influenced and how it can affect their decisions.
Works Cited
Stern, R., PhD. (2024, May 19). Influencers are very popular in today’s world. Here’s how to adapt as a parent. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/power-in-relationships/202405/behind-the-influence-of-influencers
