Social Media Trends and Trending

 

Here is a conversation from one fine evening when we both were walking to the nearby market.

'Mamma, do you know what my plan is ?'

I asked, "What?"

"First, I will start one youtube channel, in which I will be assembling minecraft and then playing and explaining how to play with it. I will also include other games. But you would have to buy me game sets often. We will not do any simple games. Ninju ettan(brother) or mamu ettan (brother) will shoot my videos. Whenever you get time you can also help me" 

"Who will edit and do other things for you? " I interrupted. 

"You would have to do that, but we will make short videos and I will be careful. And then, you would have to manage uploads and also the channel. Once this channel becomes successful, I will start more channels but before that you would have to buy me a big computer. " 

I inquired again, "Why? "

" You see, once I start doing this, sooner I would have to also review video games. To do that, I would need a  computer with good capacity. I don't need it now though, so you need not worry. We will buy it later " 

That keen me pointed out, "Hey, then lets do one thing. If your channel kicks off and do well, you will start getting money. I think it would be a better idea if you can buy your own computer and yes I will also help you though. "

He answered, "No, you should buy me computer. I will have other things to buy to enhance my setup" 

"Alright" with a curious gaze in his direction. 

"But yeah, lets not just stop there. Once our reach is improved, we will link our accounts to other places as well and post our contents there too. And once it really takes over, I wouldn't have to create contents but I can sell it over or ask people to create contents for money" 

"Aahaa.." I sighed a bit.

And he exclaimed to that, " Yes!. But to do all of that, you would have to create a channel for me first. Do you know something, Arnav's (his school bus mate, classmate, comparatively neighbour and one of his close friends) mom created a channel for him and he creates his Karate practice videos already. But you wont listen to me at all.."

I took that as a chance and brought up the important topic, " Ok, this time your report card looked like, Maths - 28/30, IT - 25/30, EVS - 18/30, English - 14/30, Malayalam - 8/30, Hindi - 9/30 and GK - 20/30. I see what you are trying to pull there, but as soon as you decide to make it all even we will think about your channels and take all of those things forward" 

He interrupted, " Mommy told me that I need to write down only what I know" 

"Mommy doesn't go for your PTA meetings and report card collections, I do."

He ignored me and with one or the other simplest excuse, changed the topic to continue again.." Do you know from where I am getting all these ideas ?  I am not watching Gametherapist for no reason. He has atleast two to three channels and he is too good at those games. If I play regularly I can also get better at those. And you know what, every time he uses foul language and says something derogatory it is a trick to pull more viewers to his channel. I understood that trick so I am not even listening to those." 

" Ok so from where did you hear 'cuttings' ? but anyways I dont think I will get you out of monitoring while you watch Gametherapist".

"Yeah, thats alright! But 'cuttings' is what we say to each other at school before getting into quarrel or to end a friendship effective immediately"

" And that hand gesture which goes along with the 'cuttings' ? " 

That convo went on..

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Well, our conversation was in malayalam, my mother tongue, which I translated into English. 

Lets just begin by saying social media is a powerful tool. According to me, for me unrestricted internet usage started from mid 2008, first account was a gmail account and a friend's community which goes by the name 'tagged'. Within a year, I had a yahoo email account, an orkut account, a facebook account, a google plus account and the next year, I had a twitter account as well. And many more accounts to be added before completion of my engineering degree itself. I wouldn't deny that I have not used any of those accounts for my continued content sharing which still goes on through those same accounts, but monetary benefits out of those accounts or even through my hobbies related to those accounts were the last thing in my mind. I lived in an era where a majority of people's social media usage was about " Whats going on in your mind" , "What's happening in your life" later to turn into sharing images and videos of the same.

I would say that, 2013-2014-2015 turned it all around with Instagram's gaining popularity. My first account on Instagram was created towards the end of 2012 which I lost within a week when I delayed to use its credentials after changing my phone. I had to create another account sooner around sometime in 2015 which I still use as my personal account. Yes, for some reason so innate and special I just cant get myself to stay away from social media longer, even though I cant deny there has been an evolutionary growth in an upward spiral direction to the way I approach social media; I just love social media, people, interactions, connections and everything about social media. For a longer period of time, my whatsapp status used to be, "Cant believe they are here at my finger tips" which later got evolved into " Make today a happy day" with a lot of smilies which I think would be my motto as well when it comes to social media. I am attempting to find out what is social media to me irrespective of the trends, trending and its evolution over years so that may be if you are reading this you may also think through it all. And no matter how much evolution amends my approach, there will still be a part of me who will come to my social media accounts to unwind or burst out that stress bubble and simply to know or inform how it is all going on today. 

I would venture out and state that the onset of my social media accounts creation time would rather be called as the infancy period of social media. New concepts were  being tried out, internet was slowly taking over the scene, concept of hand held apps were slowly being visualized and most of the internet users were developers, ideators and students ( I mean youngsters). Most probably, their approach did do something right and set the trend and its vision straight because if it were for adults (especially those who have lost their inner child) they would have set a different tone to social media altogether then itself. As an adult with a kid around me, I often think there are ways in which I may tamper or taint my son's mindset development by already trying to impose on him certain inbuilt mental conditioning which I have acquired through my growth cycle which might or might not be necessary to him because he is going to live in a different era not the same as mine. Anyhow, social media back then wasn't conditioned to be approached in a certain way by adults. Well as a girl on social media there were a minority(yeah note down the word minority because that was just it) who had other approaches in their mind but that is why they had "Others" folders, "Ignore" and even "Block" buttons since then.

Instagram's impact on today's social media usage approach evolution is undeniable. It shifted the landscape with an approach one can rightfully term as "Visual Storytelling". As visual beings we swept away from text-heavy platforms to the power of images. Instagram made sharing pictures and videos, often enhanced with filters, the primary mode of communication. A bold wager on the power of the image, allowing users to share snapshots of their lives, curated and enhanced through the magic of filters, where a carefully chosen image could convey a multitude of emotions and experiences.That was a new approach then back in 2010 which was a more evocative form of communication triggering a ripple effect that continues to be felt across the social media landscape even today in full force. 

This visual revolution not only made social media more engaging but also empowered users to express themselves in a more creative way ushering in the age of the influencers. The platform's focus on visuals and the ability to build a large following around a specific niche opened doors for individuals with unique personalities, talents or areas of expertise. Brands were quick to recognize the potential of this new breed of online celebrities and influencer marketing was born. Collaborations between brands and influencers became commonplace, with everyday people transforming into tastemakers and wielding significant power over consumer choices. Instagram's impact on social media extends far beyond the realm of influencers and carefully crafted feeds. The platform has fostered a strong sense of community around shared interests. Hashtags have become powerful tools for connecting people with similar passions, while features like stories and reels have enabled more dynamic and interactive forms of communication. Instagram groups provide a space for users to discuss topics, share experiences and build meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. 

However Instagram's influence on social media is multifaceted and complex. While democratizing visual storytelling, empowering individuals to build communities and opening doors for new forms of marketing and communication it has also cast a shadow on the seemingly perfect world portrayed on Instagram. The emphasis on aesthetics has led to a curated online persona, often showcasing only the best moments and airbrushing out the realities of everyday life. This relentless presentation of idealized experiences can breed feelings of inadequacy and social comparison, particularly among insecure, too idealistic or mentally weak users. The pressure to maintain a certain image and garner likes can have detrimental effects on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression and body image issues. And with the advent of digital marketing and incorporating the same through the in hand tool named Instagram, a new trend or propaganda of promoting this kind of toxicity for monetary benefits (or ones own livelihood ) is doing the rounds, an unhealthy growth or approach to social media usage is being fostered in its own adolescence or youth phase of social media.  

Next revolution phase: lockdown. Well if lockdown didnt teach us anything at all, it did amplify on the basic needs of human beings. "Eat or being eaten" completely transitioned into "everyone needs to eat". I call it the realization phase, the master of all evolution which slowly reflected on social media as well, a potent accelerant to all the trends that were already brewing on Instagram. Confined to their homes, people turned to social media with a newfound intensity, seeking connection, entertainment and a sense of normalcy in a drastically altered world. This amplified reliance on Instagram fueled existing trends and gave rise to new ones. One of the most striking shifts was the focus on domestic life and personal creativity. Sharing glimpses into their homes, newfound hobbies and creative pursuits became a major theme. Baking sourdough starters, mastering the art of latte foam and documenting at-home workouts were just a few examples of how people found solace and expressed themselves within the confines of their homes. Recipe tutorials, DIY project guides and online fitness challenges flourished, filling the void left by the absence of social gatherings and physical activities. 

Mental health awareness campaigns and support groups also found fertile ground on social media. Sharing personal struggles, offering words of encouragement and promoting self-care practices became a vital part of online discourse. In the face of uncertainty and anxieties, social media apps like Instagram , Facebook, etc. provided a platform for open communication and a sense of belonging. 

 The lockdown period also witnessed a boom in e-commerce with Instagram playing a pivotal role. With physical stores shuttered, businesses used the platform to showcase products, connect with customers and facilitate online sales. Influencer marketing adapted to promote stay-at-home essentials and encourage online shopping, making social media a crucial tool for businesses to navigate the economic challenges of the pandemic. The lockdown period served as a catalyst for the trends that were already shaping the way we interact on social media. While highlighting its potential as a platform for fostering communities, supporting mental well-being and adapting to a rapidly changing world, it also amplified our reliance on social media for connection, creativity and commerce. 

And this phase I would call the youth phase of social media. A majority of the users are well aware of the balance between personal life, social life and the tricks, its tracks and trends on social media, commercial aspects, creative aspects, needs and wants of staying connected with other human beings, requirement of maintaining a healthy mental state and how social media can help as well as deteriorate the same.

Next phase : Incorporating AI to Social Media.. lets keep it for another day.

[Through the eyes of a 33 year old woman who started using social media during her teen age days so I literally grew up along with its different phases and this needn't be the same for the readers. If at all you get to read this, I would like you to think how this article and your social media usage patterns can be related]