Lana Del Rey, Ryan Gosling, and the Romanticizing the Loneliness Trend

How Sadness Became a Trend

Regardless of algorithm, we have all come across those edits. You know the ones I’m talking about. The “Literally me” Ryan Gosling edits, romanticizing loneliness. This trend sparked similar content that embraced the loneliness aesthetic, making sadness a trend…

Music artists like Lana Del Rey and Cigarettes after Sex began trending for the fact that their music fit the sad, grunge aesthetic of the trend. People were very quick to adopt this trend which is another thing entirely.

The Immersive Appeal of the Loneliness Aesthetic

An attractive feature of this was the immersive nature of the trend. The use of dim lighting, aesthetic filters, rain and soundscapes created an immersive mood. People began sharing reels like this not only because of the loneliness aspect but also because of how the aesthetic was as a whole. The algorithm certainly plays its part promoting such content to people accordingly.

There is also a rise in highlighting loneliness in modern media. Artists feel the need to highlight such stories and in doing so, unintentionally create an aesthetic that is adopted by social media. It becomes an identity for communities to bond over on social media.

When Romanticizing Isolation Turns Harmful

It has highlighted the major issue of loneliness in modern society especially since COVID. When trends like this begin to gain popularity, it also creates an issue where it borders the glorification of isolation which can be harmful to many people.

With social media, we cannot control the narrative. When trends like this begin to go out of hand, there is nothing we can do but watch. We live in a time where mental health is gaining more traction but trends like this tend to dissuade people from seeking real connection or help.

It is important for us to learn to draw the line between an aesthetic and a lifestyle. While it is nice to watch it and it is important to create media that depicts loneliness, it is just as important to ensure that people don’t romanticize this idea as it is a serious issue that can have serious consequences.

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