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2024 was packed with social media trends that didn’t just get our attention but also started real conversations. Scroll down as we revisit the trends that got everyone talking this year.
Last year around this time, I got into cooking, but not the regular kind. I did it with random ingredients and tried out things just for fun. A lot of this was inspired by those “clean living” videos we often see on Instagram where people talk about eating healthy, cooking simple meals, and genuinely enjoying the process. Watching them made me realize how something as simple as grocery shopping and cooking a healthy meal for yourself can feel so emotionally fulfilling. It’s a good example of how a trend can positively impact you, and I’m sure it did the same for many others. Most of us scroll through social media purely out of habit, often without any real purpose. If we are honest, we’re not expecting to stumble upon anything thought-provoking as it’s just mindless doomscrolling at best. But trends, no matter how absurd they might seem, have this surprising way of leading to conversations. They’ve become a new way for us to channel our thoughts, and while they have their downsides, this year especially, we’ve seen trends that have led to meaningful and important discussions in the most unexpected ways.
Also Read: Falling in love with the art of churning impactful stories on Reels ft. Sujoy Sawant
These trends were the gamer changers of 2024:
I'm just a chill guy/girl
The Chill Guy meme, where people imagined themselves in unusual situations and then simply said, "Well, what can they do? They’re just a chill guy," really struck a chord with everyone. People loved the meme for its relatability. Sure, a few might argue that those identifying with the Chill Guy persona are avoiding responsibility, but most of us didn’t think that deeply as we just enjoyed it because, deep down, we all want to be chill, nonchalant, and unaffected by life’s tough circumstances. Then, as memes often do, it evolved. We started seeing different takes on it, like that fan-made animation where the Chill Guy is actually pretending to be chill while secretly feeling sad inside. It was made sarcastically, but it hit hard because it’s painfully relatable.
Women in Male-Dominated fields
Another trend that’s been all over social media recently is women making reels where they act like the men in their lives. They flip the roles and, honestly, when you see it, it’s unsettling. Things like being dismissive, entitled, or casually disrespectful suddenly feel so out of place and yet, for men, it’s just “normal.”
This trend started some serious conversations. Women are using them to talk about the discrimination, casual harassment, and disrespect they deal with every day. It’s one of those trends that makes you stop and think about things you might have brushed off before. For a lot of women, it’s been a way to call out these behaviors, and for others, it’s been an eye-opener to how much women have to put up with. It’s wild how a simple trend can highlight such a big issue and get people talking.
The Man Vs Bear debate
I think one of the most talked-about trends this year was the whole "Man vs. Bear" debate. For context, women were asked, "If you’re in an isolated place, who would you rather encounter—a strange man or a wild bear?" Surprisingly, a lot of women chose the bear. What started as a random question quickly turned into a viral discussion, with women making videos explaining why they’d willingly take their chances with a bear. Many argued that a bear, unlike a man, wouldn’t harass, assault, or harm them with malicious intent, especially considering the rising crimes against women.
While the debate might seem absurd on the surface, it sparked serious conversations about women’s safety, mistrust, and the everyday problems that they have to face and a lot of men too joined the discussion with a similar thought process.
Brat Girl Summer
Everyone has heard of Brat Girl Summer. The Brat Summer trend is inspired by British singer Charli XCX's hit album Brat. It’s an aesthetic but also a way of thinking that encourages accepting your imperfections and living life to the fullest without stressing too much about the problems we face. In a time where many of us are afraid of judgment, seeing people embrace their unique personalities might actually boost self-esteem and inspire others to do the same.
Lit Girl Summer
I love when random trends try to make a positive impact on your life, and I really loved how the "Lit Girl" trend did that. The internet can be so time-consuming, and we often find ourselves being pushed into habits that might not actually be good for us. We get so caught up in the hype that we don’t even realize it. That’s why I love how Lit Girl Summer encouraged people to see that reading is (and has always been) cool!
My Dopamine Menu
A similar trend was the "Dopamine Menu" trend. When we hear the word dopamine, we usually think of high-risk activities or things that make our hearts race. But getting that tasty dose of dopamine doesn’t always have to come from something risky. In this trend, people shared how everyday moments and simple parts of their lives can give them that same excitement and thrill, proving that joy doesn’t always have to come from extremes.
Orange Peel Theory
With all these new terms for toxic relationships popping up, we've all found ourselves asking, "How do we know if the person is actually good for us?" We literally started the year asking this question with the Orange peel theory trend which basically meant that if someone is willing to peel an orange for you, they love you. Some people went "aww" and thought it was cute, while others couldn’t help but wonder, "Is this really what we’re settling for now?" Sure, love can be in the little things, but maybe we need to dig a bit deeper and ask ourselves if those small acts really reflect a healthy, balanced relationship, or if we’re just focusing on easy-to-spot signs. Maybe love is more than just a peel.
Accidental Purchase
We all love shopping, and we've all fallen victim to impulse buys at some point. For some, it's just a phase, and they get over it, but for many, it turns into a habit. The "accidental purchase" trend, where people dramatically explain how they end up making these purchases on impulse, actually highlights a bigger issue of overconsumption. It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of buying something new, but it raises the question: are we really buying because we need it, or is it just another way we’ve learned to fill a void? This cycle of impulsive buying contributes to not just clutter in our lives but also a bigger environmental and societal problem.
Ganji Chudail being a feminist icon
The word "chudail" has always been used in regular language to describe someone scary or out of place, often with a negative connotation. But we can't ignore how ganji chudail memes have become such a big part of the culture now. Sarcastically, Ganji chudail is basically living the dream life of every modern woman. She's a baddie (no cap), super independent, loves herself, feels great in her own green skin, tries out business ideas, she also found herself doing big brand collaborations, lives her life to the fullest, and doesn't get scared when life punches back. Who wouldn't love her, right? Maybe that’s why she’s been sticking around on social media for so long, especially when most trends fade out so quickly.
Brainrot
We should all really think about our consuming habits when "Brainrot" becomes the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024. And it leads to conversations like, "Are we spending too much time on our phones?" or "Is this really adding value to our lives?" People are starting to ask if the doomscrolling and jumping on trends are just a way to kill time or if it’s actually affecting our mental health and relationships. There’s also a growing debate around how we’ve come to equate being constantly busy online with being productive or relevant.
And hence, you’ve got more than one reason to watch good content on the internet and keep track of your content consumption habits. Maybe it’s even worth adding to your list of New Year resolutions!
What other trends did you love this year? Drop them in the comments below!
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