Would you say that internet trends are reflective of society. Or would you say that internet is reflective of itself?

[Anonymous]

Or an in-between... Asking this because I sometimes hear this idea (from superconnected people) that what happens, socially, on the internet predicts social reality to come. I'm more of the idea that Internet is a self-contained place, when I compare what internet does and says to what people in my surroundings do and say. But it's all about perceptions, circles, probably, unless someone can bring some objectivity to the table?

Internet reflects society

Internet reflects internet

What is society? What is Internet?

[MisterWack]

One time a celebrity posted them wearing a shirt then everyone started to go “nice pick bro” when in reality I never heard of the trend and was wearing my own stuff regardless what others thought because it looked good on me.

I do think that is society more than internet just being internet. The celebrity posted an average piece of clothing, which got people salivating to get their hands on one.
Yeah students didn’t care about the quiet kid until there was a specific thing they could shine a light on, which could be another way to see society in this example.

The trend wave crashed within one week (to those curious).

I have no memory of it since events prior to Pandemic is difficult to really remember.
My brain prioritized just trying to stay alive and protecting others ig.

[Asker]

Ephemeral trends, yes... So short-lived sometimes, those things are fascinating I think. How is it formed, why this one gets popularized and not another one, who decides what trend dies and what not...

[MisterWack]

@Maybe_Maybe_not Stanley Cups , Fidget Spinners , Bell Bottom Jeans , Leg Warmers , Slap Bracelets , Those ‘Silly Bands’ all fatalities of trends that gave gone bye bye lol.

[NathanDavis]

the internet is definitely a litter box... and a dirty one too

it's not reality, and definitely not a reflection of most of the world out there

it's a per-version of reality...

[Asker]

I instantly agreed with you, considering the potential of internet for insanity. But on the other hand, it probably talks about something we, the people, release into internet. It's coming from us, right? So it would be real in that sense

[NathanDavis]

I would argue that... it is not actually ~we, the people~ but only a certain section of the people online who post/propagate/promote the trends

one way or another, it is a money maker... and trends are not actually organic but orchestrated and in many ways automated, or aided by automation (algorithms)

while we're all exposed to it, yes... it is only a minority pushing these things

[Asker]

[NathanDavis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=022CdArz5oM

[wynning]

Good question... I think it depends on what kind of trend it is and how far removed it is from... the normalcy one is used to in their society. There are some trends that are just blasts from the past and then you have trends like the ice bucket challenge that is just... pure demented!

[Asker]

I just resisted looking up what ice bucket challenge is lol
You're choosing a cautious in-between approach, all right 💅🏼

[RageBabe]

There is no single answer to this question.

[Asker]

Thanks for the compliment lol

[RageBabe]

@Maybe_Maybe_not Thank you for the MHO!

[alice55]

Internet reflects internet and influence the youth (at least the one super connected) it have been months since I haven't been on instagram and I went back some days ago to go look at the news clothing trends and I was shocked at how negative it was for men / women relationship. I never heard such stuff in real life only in internet and it have become worse in the last 6 months than it was in all the years I was on it before.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

The internet is not a conscious entity, it can’t reflect itself.

[Asker]

... Hmmm I think it is an entity, an institution and as such it has a sort of independent life of its own. Life in the form of having its own rituals, codification, rules, trends, ways of being. Which could belong to itself, and not belong to anyone

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I’m not going to call a collection of self-interacting algorithms the same as having a conscious mind lol

[Asker]

I wouldn't either lol, I'm just thinking about it from a (loose) sociological perspective