Have We Lost Our Sense of ‘Self’?

In a climate of wanting to fit in, wear what’s trending, and the desperate need to categorise each other, is it right to say that we have lost our sense of who we are as individuals?

When scrolling on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, the consumer is consistently met with expectations surrounding how they should act or behave, what the ‘cool girls’ are wearing, and what ‘gym girls’ eat in a day. Why is it that women are always being pushed to fit a mould based on a surface-level interest that they may have? If someone is interested in fashion, then it is expected that they keep in line with the ever-changing trends, polka dots today and the new Zara jacket tomorrow. Oh, she goes to the gym? Where are her branded DFYNE shorts and sports bra to match? The increasing link between consumerism and ‘fitting in’ may provide a short-term sense of community or relatability to a consumer, when in fact it is alienating them from their true self and reducing them to a commodity.

While I understand that social media can and certainly has been used to develop users’ sense of self through self-expression, I would argue that it is not the content created by media users, but more what they consume that is harmful to their individuality. Users are being bombarded by viral content that focuses on lifestyle choices that, although they should be personal to the individual, are expressed as a guideline or something that should be followed. This is causing an erosion of unique thought, as people are putting aside their personal preferences that fail to conform to

the latest trending patterns, instead mirroring the content that they consume in their everyday lives, from the meals they make in their own homes to the makeup or clothes that they choose to wear publicly.

The harms of microtrends, however, go beyond a mere lack of individuality. The sheer amount of landfill as a result of these trends is unimaginable. The SHEIN dupe of a trending top that was all over TikTok one day is thrown out the next month when people move on, adding to the masses of clothing pieces that suffer the same fate. It is clear that the fast-paced changes of social media trends have led to the explosive volume growth of landfill accumulation, and due to everyone searching for the accessible dupe of an item that Hailey Bieber wore once, these cheaply made

garments are mass-produced from plastic-derived fibers, meaning the material will not break down when they meet their inevitable demise in landfill. While the threat of climate change is already reaching its peak, the burning of textiles continues as a result of overflowing waste, releasing significantly harmful quantities of greenhouse gases and worsening the global warming crisis.

So, although it is tempting to stay in line with the current trends on social media, and I know that we all have given in at one point or another, I would urge consumers to consider what they’re purchasing and why. Is it because the item is a genuinely long-lasting and good quality piece that you could see yourself wearing for years to come? Or will it be discarded when people stop wearing it online? Also, would you feel just as inclined to buy this item if you saw it in a shop window rather than on your favourite influencer? I think we all need to step back, look up from our phones, and consider these implications before adding to the already excessive amount of ‘stuff’ that exists on our planet. Not only that, but being yourself is much cooler than trying to be someone that you’ve seen online!

The idea for this article was devised during the 4/10/26 Writers' Room: Sense.

Words by Katie Symons she/her