This Article Is Kinda Chic

Rosie Greenwood, Esme Lee, & Rhea Kolapalli

Social media users have found their new obsession: overusing popular terms to express themselves. 

The two main victims of this trend are as follows: “niche” and “chic.” From users calling their favorite things “niche” to posting videos with text on the screen saying “(blank) is chic,” these words have become unavoidable when scrolling through social media. The terms have little meaning anymore; they’re buzzwords that get clicks and attention. As social media starts to turn every idea into a trend, one can only wonder what word will lose its meaning next.

First up, and one of the longest-lasting: “niche.” We’ve all heard it too many times, whether someone’s calling us all basic or telling everybody who their favorite supposed “underrated” artist is. But what does being niche even mean anymore? Originally, the definition of something being niche is when it “appeals/belongs to a small, specific group of people rather than a large, mainstream audience.” 

However, this label has turned into somewhat of a competition. While social media’s — and, in turn, people’s — love of being “niche” is not inherently bad, it may have turned out that way. Rather than using the word to describe a specialized job in AP World or to put people on to a lesser-known song, we’ve begun using it to make ourselves feel better than others. Why is it shameful to like an artist with 20 million monthly listeners instead of 5,000? Or to go to Starbucks instead of your local spot “nobody’s heard of”? And because of society’s obsession with being niche, we’ve labeled almost everything as such. But when everything is niche, is being niche even niche anymore?

Once upon a time, “chic” simply meant stylish, elegant and fashionable. Now, scroll through social media, and after five minutes, everything is chic. Re-wearing an outfit? Chic. Eating toast? Apparently, chic. The word has become social media’s favorite accessory, attached to anything to make it cool.

I scrolled through TikTok one morning, and to my surprise, the first video was about being chic. However, instead of rambling on about how wearing a white shirt and jeans is supposedly chic, the influencer was criticizing the trend. She explained that to be chic, you can’t call yourself chic. Chic is supposed to be unattainable, rare and effortless. Once everyone starts labeling themselves that way, the word begins to lose the meaning that made it popular in the first place. It’s a very familiar cycle on social media. 

At the end of the day, social media users will always take new trends and run with them — wearing their meaning into something unrecognizable with every post uploaded. There’s a ridiculously high chance that in a few months, everyone will be raving about a new term they found off TikTok, deeming “chic” and “niche” as cringe and leaving them to be forgotten. So, the next time you go to tell everyone about how you found your new “niche coffee spot” in Irvine, maybe reconsider your word choice before hitting post.