How Social Media Shapes Trends and Cultures

Insights For Youth

How Social Media Shapes Trends and Cultures

Marissa Moustakakis

July 20, 2026

Thirty years ago, everyday communication was drastically different. It was not as easy as sending a message and getting an immediate response. Calling or writing to someone was inconvenient and expensive, especially internationally. This eventually discouraged regular contact with those who lived across borders or continents. Fast forward to today, and nearly every aspect of society revolves around the use of social media. From casually meeting new people, to working through these platforms, Social Media has a substantial impact on one's everyday life. With almost any person in the world accessible with the click of a button, people are much more connected than they were in the past. As convenient as it seems, this comes with its own unintended consequences that were not considered in the beginning of its creation.

Social media, serving as a more convenient method of contacting others, allows an increase in communication across international borders. For instance, users can connect with an individual from a different country and contact them on a regular basis. This is opposed to the previous form of communication, where international contact was hindered due to expenses. An increase in efficiency allows for consistent exposure to a new culture, which has an impact on the way people behave. From adopting new traditions, all the way to small gestures, such as speech and everyday behavior, social media facilitates the exchange of various customs. (Tang and Chan). Furthermore, trends are able to spread on an international level, bringing people and societies together. Businesses and accounts are able to reach the majority of countries through social media, which allows trends and customs to travel across the world that otherwise would never spread. A more productive means of contact gave societies more reasons to stay in contact, which allowed the growth of customs and trends in countries that typically would not be exposed to this otherwise.

Another component of everyday behavior that significantly contrasts the years prior to the use of social media is the way in which others meet people. Specifically, with dating, there is an extreme contrast in the manners by which people meet. For instance, Stanford researchers conducted a survey by which approximately five thousand adults were asked where they met their partner. Statistics indicate that the amount of people who stated they met their partner online was significantly higher than all else. Specifically, 39% of couples met online, compared to the next closest vote, where 27% of people stated they met at a bar or restaurant (Buchholz). It is imperative to consider this number has increased 37% between 1995 to 2017, clearly indicating the drastic change in modern dating culture from the facilitation of social media. It is much more common to meet others through a social media or dating platform, as exhibited through the survey.

While social media has its benefits to limitless interaction, such a platform may create safety concerns for harassment or exploitation. During its rise, social media appealed especially to adolescents, as it catered to their ability to create an identity online and express themselves without a fear of harassment. On the contrary, because it is so easy to make an anonymous persona online, it is also easier to manipulate and exploit others, especially adolescents, who are especially vulnerable to such attacks. Additionally, the novelty of such platforms may pose safety concerns, as it is difficult to regulate a vast amount of posts. In turn, this causes children to be exposed to inappropriate content online. Prior to the use of social media, such problems did not exist. Currently, there is a culture surrounding the prevention of cyberbullying and online exploitation and harassment, as it became increasingly common as years progressed.

Although the progression of social media has allowed for much more efficient interactions, and fostered new connections and healthy forms of expression, there are safety concerns due to the immense amount of people with less regulation and the anonymous nature of the platform. All of these novel ideas fostered a new culture surrounding social media, as well as facilitating the spread of existing ones. If used safely, social media can be a platform for connection and self expression without the concern over one's cyber security.

Works Cited

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Tang, Mui Joo, and Eang Teng Chan. "Springer Nature." Social Media: Influences and Impacts on Culture, July 2020, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-52249-0_33. Accessed 23 July 2026.