By Amalia Theocharidou,
If you’ve ever used a social media platform –mostly TikTok–, then it’s very likely that you’ve stumbled upon comments like, “that’s me“, “definitely me“, “me in 20 years“. The type of content describing situations, overspecified emotions or experiences has started to gain ground in popularity, as this is now what the users are looking for. The times where gossip “ruled”, where people just wanted to delve into the lives of upper-class people, spend hours watching “Keeping up with the Kardashians” are over. One word is trending. And this is “relatability”.
But why do users appreciate more content they can relate to? Firstly, our isolated society leaves no room for meaningful connections most of the time, as everyone is pretty much dealing with their own hectic everyday life. So, as a response, they used the only form of a connection still making it out strong. Social media. Users on various platforms started creating more personal videos –some would call oversharing–, where they storytell or express personal thoughts and experiences. Given the solitude one faces on their life, these videos are providing the joy we feel, when we simply see another person share the same thoughts, preferences, feelings about something. There are videos with millions of likes and views, that start with the same phrase, “Me when…“, as well as comments that only prove the point further, like, “I thought I was the only one who did/thought/said this“. Another way of connecting is the excessive use of “you”, which automatically brings the receiver of the message to the spot to imagine themselves in the creator’s position.
What everyone seeks in their life is a sense of belonging, the feeling of being understood and accepted. This is what relatability offers, allowing users to grow in their own skin, to feel comfortable with their actions, since there are also other people who think and act the same way. This restraining of uniqueness can be very much comforting when you feel a part of something. Especially in cases where the receiver feels unaccepted in society or just doesn’t get any validation. In that way, the stigmatization is a weak concept.
Self-awareness is also a thing. People absolutely adore learning more about themselves, discovering their hidden personality traits –therefore the adoration towards zodiac signs. Most of us don’t even realize that we act the way we do, only when someone points it out. Therefore, these videos serve as a pointer, a window to our souls, leading users to be more observing about themselves and their habits.
But, on the other hand, today’s humor implies a great romanticization of mental health issues, perpetuating stereotypes and even triggering others. Self-diagnosis is a common phenomenon. Users tend to associate themselves with certain traits of mental health issues, claiming that they, therefore, have the issue, reducing the chances of getting professional help or even triggering others.
Relatability is a popular concept nowadays, creating a close bond between the creator and the watcher, that is now conquering all social media platforms. But is the concept of belonging worthy of sacrificing one’s uniqueness? And is there a unique experience at all?
References
- Why Relatable Content Captures our Attention: 4 Key Insights. Medium. Available here
- Are Relatable Posts Doing Our Mental Health More Harm Than Good? The Teen Mag. Available here
