When trends start from small corners of the internet, such as Dolores hot dogs or GGEZ, there’s only so little time left for them to stay unknown before a wider audience discovers them. As these trends become mainstream, people tend to lose their interest in them because the trends are now overused. Through it all, social media has allowed for these fads to spread so fast throughout a diverse audience. 

According to Merriam-Webster, the term “bandwagon” is defined as a current or fashionable trend. In a Bear Witness Instagram poll, out of 102 respondents, 91% answered “yes” to seeing an increase of bandwagon trends on social media. In another poll, 51% of respondents answered “yes” to having niche interests, and 49% answered “no.” 

Senior Eli Stachnick — who answered “yes” to having niche interests — defines bandwagon trends as something that becomes popular very quickly.

“It becomes this trendy thing where people kind of all see at the same time,” Stachnick said. “Everyone builds [it] up and gets super hyper-fixated on them, and it kind of lasts for a while. But I also think bandwagon trends [are] very quick and [they] go away.”

Similarly, math teacher Dianne Viernes mentions how people gravitate towards what is currently popular.

“[People are] seeking belongingness, so then they feel that they’re fitting in,” Viernes said. “I want to be part of the community, like even me as a teacher [with] the Gen Z slang. I try to be aware of that, just because then if I use it, my students would relate. So just like building that connection [with them].”

For many students like sophomore Anya Desai, bandwagoning comes in the form of trendy clothes and items. She bought flip-flops from Rainbows Sandals to fit in with her friends at school. Desai mentions how she’s noticed Rainbows Sandals recently became a trend on campus. 

“I never wore flip-flops in my life, then I saw everyone buying them,” Desai said. “Then I really want to get flip-flops like everybody else, and now I do like my flip-flops. But when I first got them, I was kind of just getting them because they were a trend.”

Stachnick described these fads people frequently see online as popular largely because they are associated with the term “trendiness,” regardless of whether or not people previously knew the topic. However, he also notes that people tend to gravitate towards lesser-known online interests because of wanting to be niche. Yet, this is what creates a bandwagon.

“I think some trends can be cool, they’re not just popular,” Stachnick said. “I think [wanting to be niche] is also why a lot of things blow up because people see them where they’re less known, and then everybody piles on. That’s why they blow up so much.”

For Stachnick, his main hobbies and interests revolve around music. He explained that he likes attending and supporting local San Jose bands — jazz combo group Actual Proof and Poor Image, a grunge, alternative band. 

“Actual Proof [are] this jazz group, and they play at this vegan restaurant downtown. I [bring] my friends sometimes,” Stachnick said. “There’s another band, Poor Image. I know the bassist. They had this acoustic show at someone’s house downtown. I like going to these things because a lot of the time, they end up being free. I think it’s really cool just because it’s something niche, and it’s fun to do.”

Even though Stachnick says he would be happy to share his personal interests like Actual Proof and Poor Image with more people, these interests are more special when they’re within a smaller community. 

“Part of the reason I went to see them and I still see them is because it’s so affordable. I would definitely be happy to share my interests and have more people get into them and see them, but I would be sad if there was a paywall put in between,” Stachnick said. “It’s more fun to know them. Then they see me in the crowd, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, hi!’ Compared to some big artist that’s on a stage and won’t see you because you’re way in the back.”

Viernes reflects on her childhood interests, particularly K-pop, how groups are nowadays deemed cool. However, she doesn’t indulge in gatekeeping her personal interests.

“I liked K-pop so much, but then I was bullied. Now, it’s a huge thing. And so to just grow up with that, it would have been so nice. But now it’s trending and popular so there’s no more stigma to it,” Viernes said. “And if there’s a band or an artist that I really like and I view music as a way to help me with my mood, [then] that could be for [other] people too. So I don’t mind spreading that and just sharing that with everyone.” 

Junior Josie Saunders mentions that while she does enjoy certain underground interests, when something becomes very popular, she admits it can alter her opinion on the trend by making it less enjoyable.

“I think a lot of times the smaller the circle, the more involved [and] connected you feel towards it,” Saunders said.

Stachnick noted that social media gives bandwagon trends the platform to go by very rapidly.

“A lot of times, the trends that you’d hear from the ’80s or when my parents went to high school, it would be a fashion trend, and it would define the decade,” Stachnick said. “Compared to now, trends go by quickly, they barely last a month. I feel like that’s because people see them so much that they get so used and bored of them so quickly, and they move on to the next thing, and it just kind of speeds up.”

Viernes acknowledges that young people have pressure to stick with popular trends. Those with a high online presence like influencers shape the way kids partake in trends. However, they have a harder time deciphering whether that influence is good or bad.

“When you’re young, you’re trying to discover [your personality], so you really have to explore and dab into things,” Viernes said. “The young generation, they just absorb everything, but then they don’t have the ability to figure out if that’s a positive effect on them or a negative.

Additionally,  Stachnick admits he is not immune to popular trends. He explained that he has changed his wardrobe to fit current fashion trends and even the music he listens to.

“It’s not necessarily wrong to like something because it’s popular,” Stachnick said. “I think that can introduce a lot of people to things that they can end up truly enjoying.” 

As trends shift from more interest-focused to broad and mainstream, Saunders reflects on how these fast-going trends and wanting to be niche puts pressure on young people.

“I definitely think it harms the youth because it makes people worried about what other people think of them,” Saunders said.

Stachnick shares similar opinions to Saunders about the matter, thinking people should be more individualistic.

“It’s such an unrealistic expectation that everyone has to be unique, because I think everybody is unique, and there’s nothing wrong with liking something that’s more mainstream,” Stachnick said. “But I think if you try to jump from thing to thing to find something, you’re just going to be like everybody else with the bandwagon, and nothing would really be personalized.”

Illustration by Annette Aguilar/Bear Witness