Social media is the epicenter of culture, education, news and entertainment. According to the data from Sprout, 90% of consumers use social media to keep up with trends and cultural moments, even more than TV and streaming services, talking to friends and family and other digital media. Around 61.4% of the world uses social media and the most active age group is 27-42 years, commonly known as Millennials.
With social media comes trends, which are inescapable in today’s world. Whether it be on Instagram, Snapchat, Discord or Facebook, even the most unexpected trends seem to rise daily. With YouTube Shorts now allowing three-minute videos, Instagram reels extending from 15-90 seconds and TikToks ranging anywhere between three seconds and ten minutes, video content has become the prime way for the spread of trends.
When trends like the ‘Tide Pod Challenge’ go viral, they can create a negative impact on users’ physical and emotional health. With social media, people have thousands of eyes on them, which becomes an encouragement to participate in trends that may be risky or harmful.
On the other hand, trends like the ‘Gen-Z Script’ encourage educational videos to catch the attention of younger audiences. Recently, the Career Center at the University of Alabama posted a video featuring the Vice President of Student Life, explaining the benefits of visiting the Career Center in a fun and entertaining way.
Social media has the power to influence young minds. The kinds of trends that go viral have a huge impact on how these minds are being shaped. When teenagers and youngsters do not stop to think about the bigger picture, hopping on a trend without weighing the good and bad sides, chances are that they might end up taking on a risky road for themselves.
While we should be aware of what is beneficial for us on social media, we should also be responsible for reporting content that could potentially reach a population not yet ready to think critically about what they consume. As a generation that believes in bringing positive changes for the ones that will follow, we should ensure that the youth around us are not trapped in the confusing cycle of social media trends.
Additionally, it is essential to promote digital education and critical thinking among young social media users. Teaching people how to analyze content, question sources and recognize manipulative or dangerous trends can help reduce the harm caused by viral challenges. Schools, parents and community leaders play a huge role in ushering young people in a positive direction.
Social media should serve as a tool for creativity, connection and learning, not a source of pressure or harm. Platforms themselves also hold responsibility in monitoring the kind of content that they are allowing to circulate. By combining responsible usage, proper education and platform management, our society can help transform social media from a place of fleeting trends to one that fosters awareness, growth and positive change.
