Is cringe culture making people boring?

The word “cringe” has become a staple in our modern lexicon to describe something embarrassing and awkward. However, often we do not think about how our attitude towards what is cringe impacts our view of ourselves and others.

Many teens today grew up with the concept of cringe being popularized on the internet in the early to mid 2010’s. From this emerged the infamous “cringe compilation” type of video, notably popular on YouTube, or long-form videos filled with clips of normal people being “cringey.”

These videos were highly critical, treating those who did not fit into mainstream standards as personal failures. As a result, people seem to be less likely to be authentically themselves around others or online to avoid potential judgment. Social media’s pervasiveness in everyday social life means that every action is held under a microscope for scrutiny – online sentiment easily seeps into real-life interactions with the instilled fear that what we say or do will draw negative attention.

Social media’s focus on cringe culture has contributed to heightened surveillance when people are going about their days. It’s become common to record strangers in public for being what the original poster deemed as ‘weird,’ whether it be for the way they dress, talk, or act. This is often done without the recorded person’s consent, and suddenly, they are being broadcast to countless viewers to face ridicule.

PC: Unsplash

Rather than risking embarrassment by developing a strong personal identity that some may find strange, it has become easier to fit into social media trends for comfort. At the same time, coming off as too boring or basic is also seen as cringeworthy, so the result is relying on niche internet aesthetics to cultivate a sense of authenticity without straying from societal norms.

Aesthetics like “clean girl,” “eclectic grandpa,” and “frazzled English woman,” among countless others, are only concepts of what an interesting person is, and people cling to these aesthetics for the appearance of being unique without legitimate uniqueness. Eventually, when those aesthetics go out of style, and the next new trend comes along, many people jump to it immediately because it’s what is socially expected.

Behind these aesthetics is minimal substance or personality; they are solely masks people put on for appearance. Trendiness is not a substitute for genuine human interests, like what music we listen to, what hobbies we have, or the values we hold. While we still can enjoy these aesthetics, it is also important that we have a strong identity outside of what is trendy and feel comfortable without the approval of others.

Being cool and being authentic is an impossible balancing act. Every person has their own beliefs on what they think is weird – attempting to please everyone you ever interact with is an unattainable goal. Accepting yourself, even the parts of yourself that seem embarrassing, will be better for your self-image and feeling confident in your identity.

Just as it is important to be ourselves regardless of what others think, it is also important to recognize when we are unfairly judging others based on what we consider to be weird. Cringe culture thrives on people being close-minded about what people should look or act like. We can break down the necessity to perform in front of others by accepting those who are different from you. 

Being unapologetically yourself may turn some people away, but it will ultimately bring the friends who understand you closer.