Trending… But Losing Myself?

Reham ElHawary ريهام الهواري THE MIND ARCHITECT™

🧠 Reflections from My Sky News Arabia Interview with Emna Chebbi

Link to the Interview: https://youtu.be/OyEtuCKG1h0

We scroll. We like. We share. Sometimes we pause and ask ourselves… why? Why do we jump on every trend — even if we don’t fully understand it? Why does missing out feel like missing out on belonging?

These were some of the questions I explored with the brilliant Emna Chebbi during our recent radio interview on Sky News Arabia. What started as a conversation about social trends quickly turned into a deeper psychological inquiry — about identity, connection, and the silent emotional voids we often try to fill through what’s popular.

🔍 Why Do People Follow Trends They Don’t Even Believe In?

Because we’re wired for belonging. The human brain is designed to equate exclusion with danger — it’s primal. So when we see something trending, we don’t always join because we care about it… We join because we’re afraid to feel left out.

📊 According to Harvard Business Review, 69% of millennials experience FOMO daily. It’s not just about missing content — it’s about missing relevance. We chase trends, not because they matter… but because we fear we won’t.

🧯 Are Trends a Coping Mechanism for Loneliness and Stress?

In many cases — yes. Trends offer a shared space for emotional release. They help people feel connected, especially when they don’t know how to articulate what they’re going through.

📚 A study published in the Journal of Psychological Research found that people who actively engaged in trending topics during the COVID crisis reported a 25% reduction in loneliness. Sometimes, liking the same meme is the closest we get to saying, “I feel this too.”

🔁 When Does Trend Engagement Become Compulsive?

When it stops being a choice… and starts feeling like an obligation. When you’re no longer curious — just anxious not to fall behind.

📊 According to Statista, the average person now spends 147 minutes per day on social media. That’s two and a half hours of passive consumption… often driven by fear, not joy.

The line is thin: Curiosity is mindful. Compulsion is mindless.

🧠 Can Following Trends Become Addictive?

Absolutely — and neuroscience backs it up. A study from the University of Michigan revealed that receiving a “like” on social media activates the brain’s dopamine reward system — the same system triggered by eating chocolate or winning money.

📈 Common Sense Media also reports that 45% of teenagers feel pressured to engage with trends just to stay relevant online.

It’s not about inspiration anymore. It’s about dopamine.

🪞How Trends Can Distort Our Identity and Self-Worth

When you’re disconnected from your core, trends can erode your authenticity. You start dressing like everyone else, speaking like everyone else, thinking like everyone else… just to feel accepted.

📉 A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association found that high social media use correlates with a 31% drop in self-esteem. 📈 Meanwhile, a University of Copenhagen study showed that taking just one week off social media increased self-satisfaction by 33%.

Sometimes, the best way to hear your own voice… is to step away from the noise.

🎙 A Message I Shared On-Air:

“Before you follow a trend, ask yourself one honest question: Is this expressing me… or erasing me?

📣 A Personal Invitation to Reflect:

🧭 Next time something’s trending… pause. Not everything you see needs your engagement. Not every viral moment deserves your energy. And not every wave needs to be ridden.

Ask yourself: Am I participating from alignment — or from fear? Is this my voice — or someone else’s echo?

If this message resonates, share it with someone who might be feeling lost in the noise. Let’s reclaim the space to be real… not just visible.

🙏 Special thanks:

To Emna Chebbi and the entire Sky News Arabia team for holding space for this conversation. In a world obsessed with algorithms, conversations like this remind us: We are not metrics. We are meaning.

#RehamElHawary #TheMindArchitect #DigitalIdentity #FOMO #Trends #MentalWellbeing #Authenticity #SelfWorth #SkyNewsArabia #EmnaChebbi #DigitalMindfulness