The term “chronically online” was once a niche internet insult, but is now a mainstream label for those whose views and opinions are deeply shaped by digital discourse. For students, particularity in university settings like Durham, it glowingly reflects how social media platforms have become more than just a distraction from boredom – they now shape identity, relationships, and in some cases, even moral frameworks. As social media seeps into every aspect of student life, the difference between virtual and real world grows harder to distinguish.

Social media trends now play a significant role in how students live their lives. From the latest fashion trends and hairstyles to speech and slang words, social media dictates the way that students present themselves to society. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become the main arenas for these ‘social rules’ to be formed and debated.

This linguistic shift, with terms like “gaslighting” and “trauma dumping” entering everyday conversation, can be seen as positive. It signals the growth in awareness and willingness to discuss mental wellbeing and toxic behaviours, making mental health more open and in a way seen as relatable.

However, the downside is that these terms are beginning to be misused or over-applied, reducing these serious issues into buzzwords that are just seen as trendy insults amongst friends. In university environments where communication and critical thinking are essential, this flattening of language risks undermining genuine dialogue and understanding.

Student-run social media pages offer space for expression and creativity

Increasingly, University life is being filtered through a digital lens, with students shaping a personality and identity that reflects the ‘ins and outs’ of social media. Take the ‘Romanticising your life’ trend as an example. This is a TikTok-inspired ethos encouraging people to view their day-to-day life, whether it be taking a walk or getting an overpriced latter, as cinematic and meaningful. While these trends promote a greater appreciation for life, it also feeds into a performative mindset, where people may focus on how the moment looks rather than the real joys of feeling and living in the moment. As a result, students may find themselves choosing aesthetics over personal fulfilment, choosing the more documentable moment over the one for personal growth and enjoyment.

Yet, Durham students are far from the passive participants in this culture, they are also the commentators and creators of latest ideas. At Durham, student-run social media accounts, from confession pages and satirical TikToks to charitable awareness pages, student-run social media pages offer space for expression and creativity. Many students engage with internet culture through light-hearted irony and humour, enjoying and playfully criticising the trends that they follow. This self-awareness over the consumption of social media provides a subtle but meaningful form of resistance, allowing students to navigate the contradictions of being both online and authentic.

Still, the broader impact of being “chronically online” raises important questions. What risks do we face as a generation that is constantly glued to our phones? At a time when identity is constructed through likes, stories and shared posts, students must balance being connected and disconnecting from real life

Image: GERALT/PIXABAY with textual overlay by Elliot Burrin