Whimsy as a trend
Social media algorithms are fascinating; at once, both a black box and golden goose. A great algorithm not only shows you content it already knows you like, but it can seem nearly omniscient with how precisely it predicts what you’ll enjoy or interact with. Sometimes, it feels like algorithms know us better than we know ourselves.
Lately, I’ve been noticing a new trend in what my social media algorithms are showing me.
There’s been a surge of content related to “whimsy,” and living a more whimsical life.
☝️ The dictionary defines “whimsical” as something fanciful or odd. In this context, it seems particularly associated with childhood, creativity, and playfulness. There is also a strong lean towards the feminine in how the trend is showing up on social media.
After a decade of girlbossing, hyper-productivity, and “the grind,” it makes sense why more and more we see a counterculture seeking out whimsy.
Here’s the thing-
I’m all about whimsy. I am notoriously a huge fan of the concept and lifestyle. As they say, “I’m not new to this, I’m true to this.”
For years I’ve been semi-embracing an “arrested development” philosophy, trying to act as childlike as I reasonably can. I believe the therapy-speak for this now is “inner child work.”
Nevertheless, in most circles, I’ve found that this is not a common approach to life. A lot of my peers seem in a rush to climb the corporate ladder, have children of their own, buy houses, etc. They don’t still collect stuffed animals and re-watch Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year as a comfort movie. (I’m being very vulnerable here right now).
This is why I was shocked to see this sudden, massive surge of content related to whimsy– embracing stuffies, cartoons, creative hobbies, doing things just for the fun of it…
It shouldn’t surprise anyone why this is a trend, though. In the same way that the “soft girl life” sprung up in response to toxic modern dating and hustle culture, whimsy core has sprung up in response to this moment in time.
We are living in times that feel unprecedentedly horrible. Things are so bad right now, people joke online that we all actually died in 2020 and are now living in hell.
Is the whimsy trend a response to a modern world characterized by mindless and meaningless corporate work, punctuated by obscene and horrific daily news? A response to constantly living in fight or flight?
Of course, maybe this is just my perspective as an ex-fed who is unfortunately very tapped into the news. But I refuse to believe people are living in blindness to what is happening in the world.
I am writing this just days after the whole world watched an ICE agent fatally shoot an innocent unarmed woman in the face, murdering her. This has been followed by reports of more people being killed by ICE- which is on top of the significant number of reports that people are being snatched off the streets, and being held without due process.
Early on in 2025, a colleague said to me that one of the best ways we can fight back is through joy. At the time, we could not have conceived of what would come to pass just within the first year of the second Trump administration. But I believe it still rings true.
I don’t know how big the whimsy community is (echo-chambers are a hell of a thing) but I think this trend represents something we all feel. We intuitively know that we need joy to survive and persist despite the horrors.
I am inspired by seeing others embrace silliness and childlike wonder, learning just for the fun of it, pursuing creative interests, and enjoying what makes them happy. Whether it’s taking a ballet class, or cozy gaming, or decorating their homes with tiny mouse figurines… it’s inspiring to see.
I have to believe we will persist and find a way to fight for a better future. To do this, we can build our psychological resilience through whimsy. Take this trend as your sign to never stop being silly, to get back in touch with yourself, and take joy wherever you can find it.