Characteristics of Trends
Trends are difficult to study and analyze. Studying them is like predicting the future and determining what changes may possibly last and thus have wide effects on society and the people. Just like predicting an incoming rain or storm, it is quite difficult to measure its impending aftermath. It may yield a good outcome for the farmers especially when they are in great need of water for their crops, but at the same time it can also yield damages to other areas.
Rehn and Lindkvist (2013) mentioned a so-called hierarchy of trends, which explains why trends seem to have varying reach, effects, and influences on people. This hierarchy is a representation of the scale of the development of a trend. To better explain this, here is the tabular representation of these characteristics with some examples
Microtrends
Descriptions and Features
These are “little things that happen all around us all the time, the tiny shifts that occur in everything from clothes we wear and the snacks we eat to the way we work, play, and love.” These trends happen right now and are outright observable.
Example/ s
Smartphone Apps/Games which are dependent on the capabilities of a smartphone (these apps/games oftentimes lose their popularity overtime).
Macrotrends
Descriptions and Features
These are “aggregated microtrends or more sweeping changes that are affecting society.” They provide major changes that are perceptible in the societal level for a longer period.
Example/ s
Varying Smartphone brands (iPhones vs. android phones) Battle for popularity of these smartphones
Megatrends
Descriptions and Features
These are macrotrends that have grown up and moved out. They are big, bold and affect the lives of great swathes of the human race.” They can last for decades and are “so pervasive as to be generally known.” They have become the prevailing condition that has become too normal.
Example/ s
Smartphones which are dependent on the internet. Smartphones are widely used by almost all people in the world.
Gigatrends
These are “trends that are so general that they affect most areas of human life─ or, at least, more than one aspect of life or more than one industry.” They are usually identified to define an era.
Example/s
Internet or the World Wide Web which may be considered as the soul of almost all technology.
Besides the above example, trends can also refer to movements, ideologies, concepts, beliefs, and more. The important thing in studying trends is to observe them closely for subtle and sudden shifts that ultimately affect people, cultures, and societies in general. In the next module, you will be provided with a more in-depth study of the characteristics/ hierarchy of trends.
Activity
Directions: Illustrate through symbols the elements and characteristics of a trend and why everyone needs to cope with them. Draw your illustration on a separate sheet of paper. Ulitin ko gumamit ng papel.
Microtrends
Macrotrends
Megatrends
Gigatrends
ASSESSMENT.
OR COPY THE LINK AND PASTE TO YOUR BROSWER
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