What is a trend?
- Physics 101: remembering the true definition of force — does this actually have weight and sustained energy?
- Psychology 101: remembering the human — does this actually mean something to a real person, not an algorithm?
- Business 101: remembering ROI — does this actually move a needle and is a sound investment of time, energy, and resources?
Matt Klein • ‘Trends have lost all meaning’
They used to be worth paying attention to, but now they’re just an endless cycle that people feel hopeless about keeping up with.
Many of these declarations are not meant to be taken seriously, and plenty will not succeed (see: Hot Vax Summer and, less consequentially, The New York Times’s endorsement of the Dirty Shirley). But all arise from a desire to identify some distinct flavor of each summer that can be captured and stored like strawberry preserves.
Callie Holtermann • Why Do We Brand the Summer?
Everything, everywhere all at once
It has become clear that there is nothing in this world too far-fetched to become a vibe. The vibes are out of control. Anything can become a vibe. Even “zero vibes” could soon be a vibe trend, as long as you market it correctly
Cazzie David • The "Vibe Trends" Are Out of Control
Trends have become synonymous with TikTok trends
I’ve been thinking a lot about what is (or is not) a trend . Merriam-Webster defines “trend” as “the general movement over time of a statistically detectable change.” If fashion publications are all eagerly covering a particular item or style, thus causing a “statistically detectable change” in how much coverage something is getting, does that make... See more
Failmarriages and Rejection Therapy
The meme even expanded its seasonal footprint into Christian Girl Autumn and Short King Spring.
Callie Holtermann • Why Do We Brand the Summer?
We’re even branding seasons
Blueberry-milk nails. Hot rodent boyfriend. Tomato-girl summer. What do these things have in common? Absolutely nothing. They are all utterly meaningless. That and, within the last year, each one has become a micro-trend, a niche and short-lived yet pervasive fad that sweeps the Internet.