On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: twelve Dyson Airwraps. Whether it is a Dyson Airwrap or an Apple Pencil, it seems there is a new viral item catching the attention of teenagers each holiday season.
Regardless of it being the media, parents, friends, or teachers, there are a multitude of influences on teenagers. However, the effect that social media and influencers have on young minds has only intensified with each passing year that the internet is available to them. During Christmastime, this is seen by what teenagers ask for on their Christmas lists.
For freshman Paige Tracy, around four hours of her day is spent on social media, giving it a decently-sized presence in her life. “There are so many videos that I’ve watched about Christmas list recommendations,” confessed Tracy, “the makeup side of my wishlist is mainly from influencers on TikTok and Instagram.”
At a screen time of six hours per day, sophomore Julianna Jones uses the time spent on her phone to watch Dance Moms, FaceTime her friends, watch hauls on Youtube, and shop online. During Christmastime, Jones always sees more and more influencers online that talk about new trending gift ideas, and she uses their opinions to help curate the perfect Christmas wishlist. “When you discover something that you haven’t heard of online, you see it and think that since the influencer likes it, I will probably like it,” explained Jones.
Senior Kelsey Hutchings’ screen time is around four hours a day, and those four hours are spent scrolling through Instagram, Pinterest, and other apps. Each Christmas, Hutchings and her family start the day by opening presents. This year, Hutchings is hoping for a new iPad that she can draw on for art class. “I see people on Instagram drawing with their fancy iPads and their Apple pens, and it makes me feel like it would be nice to have one,” expressed Hutchings.
An avid shopper, Hutchings has bought a variety of products over the years, oftentimes because she saw multiple people enjoying the product online. “I saw somebody online using a Dyson Airwrap, and I really wanted one, so I got a knock-off version,” stated Hutchings. “I saw people using the Rare Beauty highlighter, and it looked really good, so I bought it too.”
The influence of social media and the internet on Christmas wish lists has changed the way the beloved holiday has been celebrated for the last few years. Although the spirit of Christmas can sometimes get lost in the overconsumption of products, exchanging gifts between family and friends is a great way to spread joy and cheer during Christmastime.