Instagram, TikTok, Youtube and any other social media app, is there to influence their viewers into something, no matter if that’s skincare, popular items or work out plans. A few common things on social media, at the moment are brainrot, dumplings and Needohs.
“I think brainrot humor is one of the most popular things people say and do,” junior Grace Farley said. “I think they do it to be funny, which in some cases it is, and others not so much.”
Not only does social media influence people to say something, but they can also influence you to buy something as well, like the chick-fil-a cups that people on social media were buying large amounts of and unboxing them for the views, so that they could win ‘free chick-fil-a for a year’.
“I think it was popular because other people saw influencers buying it,” Farley said. “Everyone wanted to win a golden cup so their video could get views.”
The question some people might ask is, are the products always worth the hype? How do the viewers know if they are getting a good product or if the influencer is lying for views?
“Its a fun thing to do,” Farley said. “But I don’t think people should waste their money that they work hard for just because it’s popular on the internet.”
Another popular thing people purchase because they are influenced by the internet is dumplings. Dumplings have been out forever, but it didn’t start getting popular until an influencer posted an unboxing trying to get the glitter dumpling.
“I think that dumplings are worth the hype, but also aren’t worth it,” freshman Shannon Wilkinson said. “I feel like if you have anxiety or if you need to do something with your hands while you’re just sitting they can be a good tool for you, but I feel like they aren’t worth the hype because people just want the glitter dumpling, so they buy multiple and don’t leave any for others.”
Just because an influencer on social media, did an unboxing, or says something funny, it blows up, and suddenly everyone wants to buy what they had, or say what they said. When in reality they are causing problems for others because they can’t get the item because they can never find it, or because it is always sold out.
“People take some things on social media way out of proportion,” Wilkinson said. “They think because a lot of people have something they have to get it also, so they can fit in. when in reality it’s not their fault, it’s just sold out because it’s popular.”
