Across social media platforms, “day in the life” videos have become a huge trend, with people tagging #dayinthelife over 2.8 million times, capturing the everyday routines of teens in short, peaceful clips. For many teens, filming every day has gave them a way to express themselves.
These vlogs are made to document their everyday lives, build and grow a community, and earn income, while entertaining viewers. One major reason for this trend is the influence of social media platforms. Apps like TikTok and Instagram have made short, engaging videos extremely popular, gaining millions of people’s attention, encouraging students to create similar content.
People online have made short vlogs for everything, like trying to achieve a specific goal, inspiring others to do the same and to try something new.
It has become very easy to record and edit videos. With smartphones, anyone can film clips within seconds. Editing apps let users to add music, transitions, and filters, turning simple moments into content ready to post. Because of the ease, doing the same thing every day feels fast and easy.
Another reason students do these videos is to capture moments and memories of their past. This lets others look back on past experiences that they can’t re-live. Recording their lives helps them hold on to experiences that might be forgotten.
“I think making these types of videos are a great way to keep track of our memories and the past we can’t go back in, it shows what we did back then and how our lives were,” said senior Tom Yu.
By getting to choose what and when to record and share, students are able to show their personality, interests, and lifestyle to others. It lets teens express themselves. Some might focus on aesthetics, while others like humor. Vlogging serves as a diary, letting students reflect on their lives throughout high school or college. Compared to older ways of connection and expression, like journals and photo albums. Today, teens can share their lives digitally. Instead of keeping memories private, many people now choose to post their experiences online for everyone to see. This change has been influenced by social media, but also during quarantine, when students relied on online platforms to see each other.
“I see day in the life videos, or road to something videos on social media often; it makes me feel the need to watch them because it’s inspiring in a way,” freshman Kingston Lin said.
Receiving likes, comments, or views can provide a sense of enjoyment or excitement. Even without a large audience, creating and sharing content every day can be enjoyable for the people who watch. For some, filming can be a hobby. For others, if they enjoy it, it can turn into an interest in content creation or media.
“My friend from another school does these types of day-in-the-life and videos and tries to inspire others. I was the only one following and watching back then, but now he has gained a lot of followers and is doing great, so things can happen fast” says freshman Greg Mouradian.
As this trend continues to grow, it could change how people look back on their lives. Instead of relying on a few photos, there are now detailed digital records of their everyday experiences.
Ultimately, students are filming everything they do, not just because it is popular online. Some want to show their creativity, personality, identity, and connection. They are doing it to capture memories, express themselves, connect, and inspire others to try new things.
