For sophomore Manha Islam, following celebrities and influencers as well as various trends on social media platforms is like second nature. 

Islam said, “I follow a lot of [influencers] and a lot of the things they do as well as trends. If I see something getting super popular on TikTok or Instagram, I try to get something similar or I’ll get the thing itself. Stanley Cups, for example, are super popular right now. Same with the summer vibe which is like glowy makeup, hibiscuses and things like that.” 

Islam said she tries to keep pace with the most current and well known trends because it allows her to stay connected and relate to a lot of people. Sociology teacher Michael O’Toole said the primary reason for the explosion in the amount and kinds of trends is the widespread access to the internet and social media. 

“The rise of micro-trends can largely be attributed to the access that teens have to social media. It is a trickle down effect,” he said. “Trends start with [influencers] online, and as they gain followers and notoriety, the things they do and the products they buy trickle down to consumers and teenagers.” 

O’Toole said this phenomenon is exacerbated by many teenagers’ desire to fit in.

 “The appeal of influencers comes from the fact most people find (influencers) relatable. They’re not like traditional celebrities, who seem so far from regular people. That’s likely why many teens tend to drift towards (influencers),” O’Toole said. “It’s hard to definitively say if influencer culture is negative or positive, but there are some negatives, the major one being teenagers’ perceptions of others if they choose not to abide by certain trends. Some teenagers tend to think differently about those who don’t want to take part in certain trends.” 

However, Islam challenged this sentiment. 

“I don’t really judge people based on their appearance or other things like if they don’t want to be involved in trends. I find that to be really shallow and superficial behavior,” she said.

Sophomore Lauren Casey said she acknowledges that people have access to certain outlets in modern society that allow micro-trends to be short-lived. 

“I feel the longevity of trends today has a lot to do with TikTok. People can share trends a lot easier. There’s also a lot of fast fashion sites like Shein, so people can get items a lot quicker and cheaper, and it’s very easy to access,” she said. 

As O’Toole observes his students, he said he finds trends tend to gain attention quickly and fade just as quickly. He said these fluctuations are routine and add to the cultural phenomenon that is the rise of influencers and social media. In addition to the impermanence of micro-trends, O’Toole noted the importance of social media and influencer culture in broadening one’s views and said he recognizes social media aids in finding one’s niche in society. 

“In terms of style we tend to look for big names, big name designer, and celebrities. And now, you can access anybody. You can look them up, and you can find something even more stylized towards your interests,” he said. “Whereas if you didn’t really fit into the style of what was being mass-produced in the past, there wasn’t a lot available to you. Now with a plethora of influencers out there, you can really find one that suits your needs and what you like.”

Casey said influencers create buzz around lesser known [products, styles] and as a result they become mainstream thus reaching a larger audience. 

She said, “This is how a lot of things (trends) become popular. It happened with books and book tok and even the coquette aesthetic.” 

Ultimately Islam said Influencers have become an integral part of modern life, and this cultural phenomenon is not going to fade in the near future. 

Islam said, “Influencers have become the norm. [You] see them everywhere on social media, and because of this, there have been vast cultural shifts. I’ve never had the desire to curate my own particular style and stay dedicated to it because I always like to mix things up with what’s in now. I could see myself even as I get older, hopping on the next micro-trend.”