Olivia Zimmerman ‘29 and Lauren Zerella ‘29
Staff Writers
When imitation knocks at the door, most people say that they would keep it shut—they would lock it away. Because imitation is an infringement upon individuality, and if we lose that, what is left?
But imitation doesn’t knock. It seeps through the crevices, polluting the individualistic thoughts we believe we cultivate. It grabs ahold of us before we can even recognize it’s there.
Because imitation is safe. Imitation eases stress. When experiencing large amounts of social anxiety, humans naturally try to copy each other in order to fit in with a certain group, with the misconception being that mimicking others’ habits will increase connection and form stronger bonds. If repeated enough, these mannerisms will slowly become a part of one’s personality. This leads people to feel an increased sense of confidence and achievement, as they believe they have gained new social skills since they find it easier to associate with peers.
However, imitation clouds reality. Who are we if we are just a mash of what other people have done? The biggest problem lies in the fact that imitation is, for the most part, not conscious. I often find myself picking up on a phrase one of my friends says or pronouncing words like members of my family do. I do not intend to copy them, but it comes almost naturally. I think it is part of what humans do—we incorporate bits and pieces of other people to make a Frankenstein of personalities, thoughts, and ideas. While I do not see a problem in that, there exists a fine line between natural imitation and loss of individuality. Unfortunately, it seems like people tend to tip toward the latter end of the scale of mimicry. While it would be impossible to pinpoint an exact reason as to why this occurs, I think much of it can be blamed on the prevalence of social media.
Social media obsessions infect individuals like a plague. Words become popular online, and in just a few days, they have snaked their way into an entire generation’s vocabulary. Apps like TikTok and Instagram encourage excessive consumerism, advertising must-have makeup products and promoting countless influencers who seem to be copy-pastes of each other. Just take a look at the comment section—many videos are flooded with individuals prying for information on where certain articles of clothing are from or for a “hair routine.” There seems to be an incessant need to look and act like people we see online. The online world perpetuates a consumerist culture, which leads to conformity among individuals. This is incredibly damaging to viewers, many of whom are members of younger generations, as they feed into the excessive collectivity and begin to imitate the people they follow, adopting “trending” phrases or dressing in the style of their favorite creator.
This issue is exacerbated in college as first-years attempt to quickly find a group. Cultivating friendships with roommates and orientation groups can be a daunting task, especially since many students have left home for the first time and are trying to adjust to life with new routines, people, and classes. Imitation is seen as a “get rich quick” technique, as it seems like a reliable way to fit in with others. The familiarity of mannerisms and diction can feel comforting, increasing the chances of a bond forming between people. However, this connection will ultimately be superficial, since one party is altering themselves. Genuine relationships will only take shape if people appreciate each other for who they are, something that cannot occur if one person is emulating the other.
While copying others’ phrases and habits seems harmless enough, it represents a much larger issue within our culture as originality decreases. In such a world where uniqueness is disappearing and redundancy is commonplace, disappearing into a sea of look-alikes is the safe option—the one that appears to come with the least amount of negative attention. People spend so much time dreading the opinions of peers that they change their defining characteristics in the hopes that they will blend into society, yet this mindset comes at the price of self distinction. But even though we spend large amounts of time trying to change ourselves so we will be better liked by those around us, ultimately the most endearing quality one can have is individuality.
Featured image courtesy of Tekedia
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