Eavaeh Tiernan

In a world full of social media feeds, it is very easy to fall into the illusion of one single dominant aesthetic. There are a large selection of aesthetics that people pick to design the way their life looks on the outside. However, people shouldn’t be subjected to just aesthetics, nothing speaks louder than having a unique personality, and trying so hard to stick to the aesthetic is deeply draining.

To be an individual is to be different, distinctive, and most importantly authentic. Yet there is no way to do that when following what others are doing within a category. 

Considering the first impression of someone is what is shown on the outside, looks, clothes, items. Many people judge a book by its cover, as much as it is engraved into kids brains not to, it still is common. If the aesthetic is followed to a T then there will be no way to distinguish different personalities.  

Most people go for the most popular one just so they won’t stand out in a crowd. The feed of social media can show various aesthetics like vintage, preppy, minimalism, and goth. Whatever is most popular gets pushed into viewers’ life cycles until it is no longer the latest trend. 

The pressure to be the definition of beauty in the real world gets higher and higher as we grow older. Fitting in just seems easier than risking others piercing eyes judging from close and from afar. 

Falling for the different aesthetics fuels industries that profit off of insecurities and hurtful stereotypes. There are many young and silent voices wishing to reach out and be their true self, but they get sucked in after the comparison and self criticism fostered by social media and others at school or work.  

The mental health toll is undeniable as individuals struggle to maintain the aesthetic that everyone is working profusely to maintain, and they tend to lose themselves in the process. 

Although being a part of a popular group of individuals may seem appealing to young adults, are they really individuals if they are all following what seems like a rubric? This is all to feel like they are the perfect representation of a category that fits in. 

If these young adults were to just be their true self and not subject themselves into one popular category, there would be much less pressure in society. As well, everyone would have a better sense of self and possibly even better mental health as they would express in the way they truly want. 

We as a society must actively resist the algorithmic pressure and celebrate the beauty of individuality, as well as cultivate different tastes and styles to express personality that is not following guidelines. Beauty lies not in following others but in forging personal paths. 

It’s time to break free from the aesthetic chamber and embrace the power of individuality. Being distinctive is its own power as others will truly gain an understanding from their first impression. People shouldn’t be subjected to just aesthetics, nothing can compare to being unique, along with the unconfounded weight on bad mental health aesthetics can bring.