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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

Humans have existed for millions of years. We are always changing and evolving, but one thing has remained timeless throughout our culture: trends. Even though many link the word “trend” to a modern, digitally savvy era, these patterns of what’s hot and what’s not have existed since as early as our most primitive ancestors. 

Trends consume our daily thoughts and actions. What to wear, what to eat, how to dress or how to act. Nearly every facet of our lives can be mirrored by popular culture and what the general public deems acceptable at any given period of time. In this modern culture, anyone can become a trendsetter at any moment with ease. It takes just a simple TikTok or Instagram post to ignite a new lifestyle across millions of people. 

Trends can quickly become controversial and problematic. It is impossible to regulate or predict what the next biggest craze will be. Not all trends are objectively bad; in fact, some are undeniably beneficial to the general public. For instance, the emergence of TikTok has led to a focus on reading (#booktok), academia and productivity. Social media in general spreads knowledge that would otherwise not be accessible. This being said, trends and challenges can be detrimental to mental and physical health. The physical trends popularized on the internet including the Tide Pod, Birdbox, and salt and ice challenges are all harmful to individuals. High-risk performative stunts have become so normalized that many young adolescents see no danger in performing these dangerous acts for mere views and likes. 

In addition to physically damaging trends, mental health has plummeted as a result of society’s fixation on what is current. My biggest pet peeve ever is that certain body types go “in and out” of trend. Human bodies, specifically women’s bodies, cannot be reduced to viral patterns of popularity like clothing, makeup, or jewelry. This objectifies women. It seems that as soon as I feel fully confident in my body, another body shape is deemed more desirable. This is a common experience faced by most women in modern society and it proves that our perception of women is warped through the male gaze. Embrace your body as it is and be grateful for all that it does for you every day. If you try to chase after a certain figure, you will always be unfilled. Life is too short to be in constant battle with your body. 

While some trends are for harmless fun, others can be problematic in nature. Women’s bodies are beautiful vessels of life, not objects that can come in and out of fashion. It seems to me that these “trends” pit women against each other and create a culture of competition. When we consciously ignore and disregard these toxic trends, we give women their power back. 

Katie is a Junior at St. Bonaventure University. She is an executive board member for Her Campus at SBU. Her experience with social media, advertising, and writing allow her to combine her passions and advance her university's chapter of HC. She has been a part of Her Campus since freshman year. It has been her favorite on-campus extracurricular to become involved with. Katie is currently studying Strategic Communication and Marketing. She finds joy in being involved on campus through various organizations including Her Campus and Jandoli Women in Communication. Katie is both an Orientation Leader and a Peer Coach- she loves welcoming new students and helping them transition to college. She is also a full-time student ambassador who enthusiastically leads tours for prospective students. (Request her as your tour guide!) In her free time, you can find Katie reading, hiking, and laughing with her friends. She loves spending time outdoors, especially in the fall. Her kryptonite is iced coffee. Some of her favorite artists include Chris Stapleton, Fleetwood Mac, and Noah Kahan. Her favorite show is New Girl. Katie will eagerly engage in any conversation about her beloved hometown, Buffalo, New York. She will likely attempt to convert you to become a Buffalo Bills fan, and could talk about Josh Allen for hours. Post-grad, Katie hopes to be using her creative talents towards a fulfilling career in the world of advertising.