Is it technology, or just another accessory?

By Arlette Mann Fashion Editor

Have you noticed the rising popularity of AirPod Max headphones? Or the digital cameras that everyone seems to be carrying around these days? So much technology is being carried around as accessories, despite not being designed for that.

By Shirley Jajati Contributing Writer

Zendaya, queen of Hollywood, once said, “I’m one of those people who doesn’t follow trends, I set them.” A confident mindset, one that it seems many people have recently taken upon themselves by, ironically, following a new trend: the deinfluencing trend.

All over TikTok, influencers are advertising brands and products, not because they like the product or even because they use the product, but because they get paid. Which is the reason people feel that these endorsements are untrustworthy. Companies, especially those that sell beauty products, play off the affection that viewers have for certain influencers. Thus,

What most people are starting to come to terms with is that liking and following an influencer doesn’t mean you need to become the influencer. And you simply can’t become the influencer. No matter how many identical beauty products you buy, you will never look the way they do. You will remain your beautiful self. Once this sinks in, people start to adapt a more Zendayalike attitude toward influencer advertisements and appeals to authority.

That is what the deinfluencing trend is about: going against the trends and not purchasing items purely based on the opinion of random girls and boys who sing and dance behind a screen. You can do your own research and find products that you like that are recommended by doctors and experts, and that aren’t nearly as expensive as what the influencers recommend. Do your own thing, have your own style, it’s worth it! And it’s trending!

The next time you’re in the city, count how many people you see wearing AirPod Max headphones. I’m sure the number will be higher than you think. But why is this the case? Why are people spending so much money on headphones when they can buy a cheaper option with sound quality and usability that’s just as good or maybe even better? The answer is simple. People like to stand out. So when they see others on social media doing something, they hop on the trend as quickly as possible to ensure they are one of the first ones doing it. Then, when the trend becomes more widespread, they can say they were doing it before everyone else. So last year, when wired headphones were trending, there were a few people who began to wear the AirPod Max headphones so that they could be involved in the headphones trend, but they were doing it in a slightly different way. When this began to catch on slowly, more and more people impulsively bought the AirPod Max headphones, and now we see them everywhere.

The same thing happened with digital cameras. In 2020, film cameras were suddenly everywhere. Most of the pictures posted on social media were taken on disposable cameras. It was even seen in Flatbush. Every lunch period, at least five girls were developing their film in the “Magic Photo” store. However, after some time came a switch from film to digital cameras. One person bought a digital camera, and consequently, many ran to purchase their own to “be first on the trend.” Without fail, a few months later, everyone is carrying around digital cameras. There are many students right here in Flatbush with digital cameras, and they even have Instagram accounts solely dedicated to the pictures they take on their digital camera.

In our fast-paced world, the continued popularity of new technology is not surprising. However, the world of fashion has found an appreciation for certain older technology, such as the disposable camera, and embraces it as if it were new.