Explaining Fads

Fads are generally short-lived. However, there have been several fads that surmassed incredibly large crowds of followers. These fads became so large so quick that they entwine with American culture and then spread like wildfire. There are three main factors in how well a fad will do. The first is who is exhibiting the fad. Secondly, how easy the fad is for the populous to duplicate. Last is the change in the environment the fad makes. These three factors are the reason why some fads, such as the buzz surrounding the airplane, sweep the nation like a virus and others die out within days.

One of the most popular ways a fad can get started is by having important people exhibit it. Famous people are often emulated so when they do significant things you'll often find it become a fad. Usually these fads go without backing and fade out quickly. Celebrities are notoriously known for starting fashion fads. One such example would be the fad of women wearing loose ties, started by Avril Lavigne. Obviously the more important, and well liked the person the easier the fad will be adopted. This is a good way to get a fad going, but is never the main factor for a fads longevity.

The second driving factor of a fad is it's ease to follow. Take those LiveStrong bracelets as an example. They are sold at almost any store you can think of. Also they are cheap, usually sold for about one dollar. Compare that to some of the more expensive fads such as (Still looking for a good example that is probably well known to Case students). So if you do feel like getting that new personal item is so important, go for the cheaper one. It'll last longer and keep your wallet a good bit fatter. Noone wants to be part of something that is going to take an extreme amount of resources, money or time. That is why something like SCUBA diving doesn't become a fad, because of it's intense time commitment. Jogging, however, caught on like wild fire because it could be done anywhere, anytime and was, of course, free. This is the key factor of a fad. You'd be hard pressed to find a fad that isn't cost effective and has stuck around for a long time. Even iPods at their expensive price of $250 are cost effective in the long term because of not having to pay for CD's.

The third factor is it's change in the environment. Anything that can make an influence, even a very small one, will have a lot of staying power. Using the LiveStrong bands as an example again, they have made a difference in society. You now see much more notice of testicular cancer because of this campaign. Also you have the entire series of "copy-cat" designs of that bracelet with everything you can think of printed on them. These bands surpassed just being an item in our everyday life and became part of our life. Once a fad has hit this point, you know it is going to stay around for a while. People are naturally resistant to change so when a fad does get into our culture, it probably isn't going anywhere until something big happens or something new is able to replace it.

Some fads stay around for a long time though. One is based on an invention you all know about, the airplane. Back when it first came out