Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter here.

There’s a particular kind of embarrassment that comes with liking something at the wrong time.

Wear a certain pair of shoes while they’re in, it signifies good taste. Wear the same shoes two years later, and they’re outdated. A song can go from being everywhere to embarrassing to play on aux. A hobby becomes cool, everyone picks it up and then almost as quickly, everyone abandons it. Clothes, music, hobbies and aesthetics are considered forms of self-expression. But it’s begun to feel like everyone is expressing the same self.

Generation Z emphasizes authenticity. A study found 92% of Gen Z considers being authentic and true to themselves “extremely” or “very important.” Being niche has become a defining characteristic of online aesthetics, and individuality is constantly celebrated. Yet social media has also made it easier to sort those individual identities into recognizable categories, from “clean girl” to “coquette” to countless “core” aesthetics that can eventually be declared in or out.

Trends aren’t new. People have always been subject to influence. Fashion has always changed, music has always evolved through eras and every generation has embraced trends until they suddenly weren’t popular anymore. The difference now is the speed at which this happens.

With social media, trends now spread and lose relevance faster than ever. These short-lived cycles are often referred to as microtrends: styles, products........

© The Daily Orange