Published May 5, 2025
BY TULLAH MCCOLL
While social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat can increase teenagers’ anxiety and depression, they also threaten an essential part of the teen experience: self-discovery and expression. Teens need to learn how to put their phones, and other people’s opinions aside and find what makes them happiest.
Media forms like television and magazines for the longest time have promoted stylistic trends for society to conform to. The ‘80s are notorious for big hair, spandex, high-rise jeans and neon colors. The ‘90s are known for the “Rachel Green” cut from the TV sitcom “Friends,” baggy jeans, slip dresses and combat boots. The early 2000s are infamous for Y2K pin-straight haircuts with side-swept bangs, low-rise jeans, tube tops and the excessive use of glitter. During these time periods, teenagers were able to try out new fashion choices without feeling a pressure to share it on social media. 
By 2023, the National Library of Medicine reported that 95% of youths ages 13 to 17 are active on social media. With these platforms playing such a big role in teenagers’ lives today, the pressure to fit in is stronger than ever. The idea of being camera ready at all times, and having to dress and act a certain way for everyone to see, and even judge, greatly influences self image and deters teens from trying new things.
Unlike the past, widespread trends now rarely last for more than a few months and sometimes reach their peak and fall within a few weeks. Examples of these microtrends include the 2020 bucket hat look and Urban Outfitters crop-tops, 2021 pleated skirt, cardigan and anything Brandy Melville, or 2022 corset tops.
With these fast-paced trends infiltrating media feeds, there is an increased pressure to conform to every new style and gives little time for adolescents to explore their own sense of fashion. Once social media has moved onto the next big trend, so has their audience.
Popularization of different aesthetics with distinctive looks–like the “clean girl” characterized by glowy makeup, neutral colors, minimalist designs, put-together hair looks, and an emphasis on looking “fresh”–have created societal boxes for teens to put themselves and others into. Even those who do not confine themselves to one style, a large majority of teens, are influenced by the uniformity social media has created. If someone were to count the amount of high school students who come to school wearing Adidas Sambas, Levi’s jeans or oversized hoodies from brands like Nike or Ambercrombie, the number would likely be high. If we are all exposed to and watching the same things on our phone, the similarity is understandable, but harms the importance of individuality.
It is impossible to end the societal pressure to fit in, but as we teenagers are unlikely to want our parents to pick our outfits, why should we let strangers on the internet dictate what we like to wear?
