The Psychology Behind Viral Trends

27 Feb 2024 1 min read
profile pic

Ruby Liu MY

read icon Read 3313
|
share icon Share 0
Community mental health
Mindfulness
Psychology in everyday life
Self-exploration

Register for free

One-stop online mental health self-help platform.

Begin Journey
Boon tour guide image

Have you noticed the various "checklist" trends circulating on social media platforms like Instagram's stories recently? The most widespread ones include the "2023 Experience List", "2024 Wish List", and "Travel Bucket List" - what do these checklist trends reveal about people's desires?

From a self-expression perspective, sharing one's experiences and preferences through these checklists can help individuals express their unique identities, build a sense of self, and present an image of themselves that they aspire to. It can also increase their "social currency" by conveying things that may help them maintain or enhance their standing and appeal among their peers.

From a social connection perspective, these checklists may satisfy our need to feel connected. By sharing, people can create emotional resonance and connections with friends, and gain a sense of social proof and validation within their social circles. The psychological effect of conformity also plays a role, as people tend to follow what their peers are doing, leading to a snowball effect as these trends spread.

Due to the way algorithms work, these online trends and challenges tend to gain higher visibility and exposure. This is further amplified by our innate human preference for novelty and seeking out new experiences (neophilia). These social media checklists and challenges are also inherently easy to participate in and share, requiring minimal time and effort. Their simplicity and high accessibility make them readily available for people to engage with.

human


Whether it was the Ice Bucket Challenge a decade ago, the recent TikTok dance crazes, or the widespread checklist trends, various social media phenomena can fulfill certain psychological needs from different angles. As more and more online fads emerge, and we see our friends engaging themselves in these crazes, it's important to remember that we have the freedom to choose how and where to spend our energy. Maintaining an independent, critical mindset allows us to navigate these waves of internet trends with more control and discernment.


References:

Gong, X., Ye, Z., Liu, B., Yu, S., & Yan, Y. (2021). How Does Social Currency Influence Prosocial Behavior? The Role of Collective Self-Esteem and Communication Network Heterogeneity. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 672505. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.672505

“Our Social Media Addiction.” Harvard Business Review, 17 Oct. 2022, hbr.org/2022/11/our-social-media-addiction

Community mental health
Mindfulness
Psychology in everyday life
Self-exploration
author profile pic

Ruby Liu MY

Well-being Promotion Officer of Jockey Club TourHeart+ Project

Copied
Poon profile pic Boon
Topics
Added to Favorites
Resume our conversation

Added to "My Exercise", where you can review past entries or add a new entry.

rating
How satisfied are you with the conversation?
After chatting with Boon, do you...
Feel more willing to discuss your personal situations?
feel more motivated to do something in your daily life to improve your situation?
find it helpful to improve your mental health
know more about ways to take care of your own mental health
Thank you for your valuable feedback!