When Did Trends Start Replacing Individuality?

It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a sense of individuality. People have become more focused on keeping up with what is popular than simply wearing, buying, or using things they genuinely like. If someone likes an article of clothing but it is suddenly no longer considered “trendy,” they might stop wearing it altogether simply because it has fallen out of style. But why? If someone still likes something, why should they let the internet decide if it is out of style?

Seriously, when did people stop being themselves and start living their lives according to the latest trends? Once people see something becoming popular online, they immediately buy into it and may even get rid of perfectly good items they already own, only to replace them with whatever is currently popular. Even when they do not particularly need something, the growing pressure to keep up with everyone else takes over. 

Take TikTok, for example. This app has become a driving force behind modern trend culture. Someone can scroll through their feed, come across an influencer using a new makeup product or wearing a certain outfit, and suddenly feel the need to purchase the same thing. But it makes you question: Did they genuinely like the product, or did seeing everyone else with it convince them that they needed to have it too? 

This can especially be seen in the rise of the “clean girl aesthetic.” This trend, which typically consists of minimal makeup, slicked-back buns, wide-leg jeans, and a tight-fitting white top, has encouraged many people to ditch their individual style and conform to a particular look. Social media has heavily influenced how people think, making them question what they should wear, how they should act, and even what they should desire. As a result, everywhere you turn, people are starting to present themselves in nearly identical ways. 

This same loss of individuality extends to the way people imitate celebrities and influencers. Hailey Bieber, for example, appeared in a Rhode campaign in which she applied a face mask using a comb. It was unconventional and certainly not the way the average person applies their skincare, but once the campaign gained attention online, people quickly began recreating the technique, applying their face masks with a comb just as she did. It is beginning to seem like people would rather imitate what others are doing than embrace their own preferences, simply because someone influential made it seem worth copying. 

Trend culture has gotten so out of hand that it has warped our perception of individuality, making it seem better to blend in rather than stand out from the crowd. At times, it all feels almost robotic. Yes, trends have always existed, but not to this extent—and certainly not to the point where people begin losing sight of who they are. Instead of developing their own sense of identity, many people have started molding themselves into someone else. 

There is nothing wrong with liking something that happens to be popular. In fact, it is sometimes fun to get excited about a new product or trend simply because you like it. However, the problem arises when people begin purchasing things for the sake of keeping up with trends, regardless of whether they even like, want, or need them.

At some point, the desire to fit in begins to outweigh personal preference. People are therefore left lost, unsure of their own identity, and constantly conforming to an ever-changing society that will never allow them to live comfortably with who they already are because there will always be someone new to become.