Have you ever been on TikTok and noticed that the trends that you thought were popular are apparently now “out”? I always feel like just as I’m getting products that are trending on TikTok, something new comes along to replace them. This can leave many people feeling overwhelmed because the trends change so quickly that they feel unable to keep up. Let’s take a look at some of these quickly changing TikTok trends.
CLEAN GIRL TO MOB WIFE
The main aesthetic of 2023 was inarguably the clean girl aesthetic. We saw many creators wear natural and glowy makeup, slicked-back hair, and neutral-colored clothing. The clean girl aesthetic was great for an everyday look for those who wanted to appear put together, natural, and “clean.”
However, one of the first TikToks I saw in 2024 claimed that the clean girl aesthetic is “out” and that the mob wife aesthetic is “in.” The mob wife aesthetic is influenced by the popular show The Sopranos and is defined by smoky eye makeup, gold hoops, and fur coats.
These two aesthetics are completely different. So, when every video I watched said the mob wife aesthetic was in and the clean girl aesthetic (which I had just mastered) was out, it was overwhelming. Like many others, I had just bought some glowy foundation and gel to slick back my hair. Now I apparently need red lip gloss and big hoops.
This rapid shift in trends can make it difficult for people to keep up with what’s “in” at the moment. This can leave many feeling discouraged or left behind when TikTok is already moving on to a different trend within a couple of weeks.
Quickly changing trends also discourage originality, as many people feel they need to conform to these popular influencers. This hinders people from finding their own sense of style.
IS OWALA THE NEW STANLEY?
Another trend that I’ve seen change recently is the transition from the Stanley Cup to the Owala water bottle. Stanleys have been all the rage for the past couple of months and they are beloved for good reason. They come in cute colors, have a handle that makes them easy to carry around, and fit in cupholders. Yet now, there is apparently an even better water bottle.
Introducing the Owala. These water bottles come in even more shapes and colors than the Stanley, and they don’t leak.
One of Stanley’s largest critiques by consumers is that it leaks when tipped over. Now, numerous creators are encouraging people to get the Owala instead. It offers a leak-free straw and lid that comes in many more fun colors and multiple styles so you can truly customize your water-drinking experience.
This switch from creators was swift. They previously loved the Stanley and urged viewers to buy one, yet now they encourage their audience to buy a completely different expensive water bottle. This has left me, as well as many others, feeling like they are never doing quite enough to keep up with these quickly changing trends.
This has also brought up the issue of overconsumption with trends that change so rapidly. These numerous and sudden new trends on TikTok make people feel like they must buy new items to replace the old trends. This may lead to overconsumption, as those who only recently bought the Stanley to participate in that trend are now buying the Owala.
BLOOM GREENS, HAIR OIL, AND MORE
A recurring trend that I often see on TikTok involves the various influencers who give advice or promote products that oppose current trends for the sake of creating controversy. These influencers seem to capitalize off the platform’s overstimulating nature and their impressionable viewers to appear distinctive and controversial.
Consider the brand Bloom Greens, for example. It seems like every influencer has been sponsored by Bloom, promoting it as a product that helps improve gut health. However, then another video shows up saying you shouldn’t drink Bloom but opt for lemon water instead. Following that, another creator says that lemon water is bad and that you should eat ginger. This makes it difficult to figure out which trend to follow, or whether any of them work at all.
I’ve also seen this tendency in videos about hair care. Many creators state that you shouldn’t wash your hair every day as it promotes healthier hair. However, others say that it’s fine to wash your hair every day. There’s also controversy about the different kinds of products that you should put in your hair. Some influencers promote oiling, while others say you should use leave-in conditioner.
These changing trends are not only overwhelming but also extremely expensive to keep up with. In order to test out all of these different products, you could be spending hundreds of dollars. This is just not possible for many people, especially for us college girlies.
Keep in mind that if you ever feel overwhelmed, you don’t need to follow every trend. Everyone should focus on being their true authentic selves and follow whichever trends (if any) speak to them!
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