To me, “identity” is composed of numerous different factors. However, throughout my teenage years, I have experienced how powerful the media can be in affecting somebody’s identity. Across different social media platforms is where I personally have been introduced to many style-related trends or have been consistently marketed towards them. On TikTok, is where I have noticed myself being exposed to them more recently. For example, a few months ago I had never head of a particular clothing brand, but once a few of the outfits went viral the store gained immense popularity. Moreover, every time I opened the TikTok app I was assured that I would view at least one video related to this clothing brand. As time went on, I observed more and more people actively buying and wearing these clothes. Popular trends direct people away from their sense of individuality and cause them to conform towards what is considered to be “normal” or “accepted by others”.
3 thoughts on “Mimi Bainbridge “Identity” Post”
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I really like that you said social media takes you away from individuality because I also believe as people start watching videos on apps like TikTok a certain aesthetic is placed in their minds and everyone starts molding into more popular culture movements.
I completely agree when you say that certain trends have the ability to make people change aspects of themselves in order to conform with the rest of the society, making them appear “normal” or “accepted”. There have been many clothing items that I first find boring or even ugly. However, once something gains more popularity, I immediately become more interested. Trends are constantly changing, meaning that once an item reaches its peak of popularity, the value decreases because less people are interested in the outdated item. I remember I bought a pair of white chunky shoes that I was seeing all over instagram. A little while after I bought them people started calling them ugly and would make fun of the look. After this, I refused to wear them because I started feeling insecure and judged. This proves how everyone feels a magnetic pull towards popular items. Since your look is a big part of your identity, social media is causing less people to for their own identity through the items they truly like.
I’d love to see you explore how “fashion” may or may not have strong influence on identity formation. Your post hints at this, but doesn’t really get into it in detail.