There are always some huge trends circulating on social media that seem to encapsulate every regular TikTok or Instagram user. Food, shows, and hobbies are obsessed over for weeks, but then they are quickly and quietly abandoned. Right now, the Internet is obsessed with DIY Biscoff cheesecake and the hit show Heated Rivalry. These trends are ways that we can recognize times in our lives – like dances that overtook “For You” pages in 2020 during the COVID shutdown to certain songs that take us back to a specific moment. Some of these hyperfixations, however, don’t fade that easily. For me, some of these “bandwagon” trends weren’t phases, but are actually staples of my life today. Here are a few.
Reading
I hate to brag, but I was a big reader long before it became a popular hobby across social media. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been able to consume novels at a gluttonous pace. BookTok really started to gain traction around the COVID pandemic, promoting fantasy series and rom-coms.
Personally, my favorite books to read are realistic fiction ones, but BookTok always has great recommendations when I feel like branching out to new genres like non-fiction or memoirs. Reading has been romanticized, and although I hate how “mainstream” it has become, I truly believe that everyone could benefit from reading – whether for enjoyment or to better yourself, it’s much better than scrolling on a device for hours on end.
Cottage Cheese & Yogurt bowls
Wellness and health have always been trending topics since the creation of the Internet, but it’s constantly evolving: What workouts are the best? Which meals are the healthiest? I’m far from an avid gym girl (I’ve been trying to get on my grind), but I fell hard for the cottage cheese and yogurt propaganda.
I actually used to hate the taste of cottage cheese as a child, but when I tried it again with various food combinations, I’ve actually come to love the simplicity and taste of the food. Yogurt bowls are trending because of their health benefits, but also the multitude of fun ways you can make your bowls look. I’ve always loved yogurt, but I’ve recently been leaning more toward Greek yogurt – for the protein content, I’ll admit – but also for the versatile combinations you can create with a simple base.
Music
When TikTok gets a hold of a song, it really clutches tight – it seems like certain songs will be played over and over again until you want to vomit at the sound. It’s usually like that for me too – I can’t stand the sound of Mystical Magical (sorry, Benson Boone) – but a few of the sounds I discover against my will actually stick.
My love for Taylor Swift was preexisting, but I’ve become much more in tune to the meaning behind her music as a result of social media. Similarly, I discovered ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine as a result of TikTok, and it was my top streamed song in 2024.
Trends may come and go, but the things that genuinely bring you comfort or joy shouldn’t disappear when the trend does. It’s never embarrassing to hop on a bandwagon if you truly enjoy what you are investing your time or money in. For me, these things are big parts of my life that I am unapologetically going to continue to dabble in.