How does social media affect trends?
By Destry Groth
Teens spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media. What do they see in these 4.8 hours? Ads, influencers, influencers marketing products and more ads. This is a popular method of marketing to teens. Show them something enough, and they will eventually cave.
A big part of social media marketing is algorithms. These algorithms have been developed to predict buyer behavior and this helps marketing teams to better understand what a buyer is looking for.
Marketing is the real kicker. They can create problems or make buyers think they need something and then offer their product as the solution. Marketers also advertise their products repeatedly and the repetition makes the buyer think they need the good or service.
Social media also allows companies to partner with influential people on the platform. If a popular individual posts something about a brand or product they like, it will almost immediately see a surge in sales. Many social media influencers do product reviews and have discount codes for their followers.
People’s spending habits are heavily influenced by what people around them do. If a person you follow buys an item, you are more likely to buy it if they leave a complimentary review on said item because you value their opinion. Or if a friend of yours buys something and you like it, you know that you like said item.
FOMO (fear of missing out) is supported by social media with the repetition of what you see. If you see something enough you think you need it because if you do not, you are left out. This not only goes for products but for activities as well. It makes the activity seem more appealing and enjoyable to see it on social media.
One common item to go on trend at Sacred Heart is water bottles. “I was influenced by social media and what I saw at school to get a Stanley (water bottle),” freshman Hallie Jones said. “A trend I’ve also seen is the Owala water bottle, but I don’t have one yet.”
Another common trend at Sacred Heart right now is the use of self-tanning products. This has been especially prominent during prom season. As students experiment with different brands, there have been days where there are a variety of shades of brown and orange throughout the school building.
Social media is a great way to keep up with other people, but it is also a way to keep up with trendy items. It gives us a way to stay up-to-date and not be behind the surge. Trends are just a big money trap, so I suggest finding something you like and sticking with it. A little bit of influencing is not bad, but falling for everything is a quick way to lose a decent amount of cash.
