TRENDS, NETWORKS,

AND CRITICAL THINKING

IN THE 21ST CENTURY
 UNIT II
How Do I Live Without
You?
 Chapter 3
Am I In or Out?
 Lesson 2

TRENDS AND FADS:

Spotting, Accepting, and
Rejecting
 Learning Objectives
• To discover the differences between a trend
and a fad.

• To speculate the trends that will emerge in the

future

• To apply critical thinking in spotting a fad and

a trend
Trends and fads are emerging
quickly.

Anyone can intelligently spot,

accept, or reject any emerging
fad or trends

The 21st century world is a

deluge of challenges brought
about by various fads and
trends.
DIRECTION:
Give examples of a fad Give examples of a trend

1. ______________ 1._______________
2. ______________ 2._______________
3. ______________ 3._______________
4. ______________ 4._______________
5. ______________ 5. ______________
Introduction
Fads and trends emerge everywhere. They
occur in any given time and context.

• How do they differ?

• How do they impact life?
 The interplay between fads and
trends issues a number of challenges
in the 21st century. It is imperative to
gain a keen analysis on this. This
lesson will present the differences
between a fad and a trend and how
anyone can spot, accept, or reject
them.
What is a trend and how
to spot it?
Spotting a Trend
 Is a gradual change or
development that produces a
particular result. The
following are words which
describe what a trend is.
 Source:Macmillandictionary.com

Trend towards/to: “We’ve seen a trend

towards more violent films this year.”

Trend in: “The latest trends in popular

music is …”

An upward/downward trend: “Today’s

figures continue the upward trend in the
stock market.”
 Trend Defined

Trend is a “recurrent phenomenon that

takes place over time and gives rise to
speculation on the future” (Sanders,
Soper and Rothwell 2002)
 Trend Analysis
It is “an examination of these phenomenon
and speculation on the likely impact they
will have in the future” any given
phenomenon and prediction which likely to
happen or any craze/fad or trend that would
likely emerge needs to be examined.
According to Cornish (2004)
and Canton (2006),

Defined trends ass a collage of present

circumstances that extend current patterns into
the future. Trends analysis grants societies
“future vision” allowing populations to be
proactive in response to future events.
Three Commonalities that
Trends Share:
• Trends are a complex synthesis of
information from a wide variety of
fields.

• All trends use pattern identification

and recognition to make predictions
when talking about the future.

• Trends use time frames to evaluate

their evolution.
 Trends are best guesses for future
events or patterns that are based on
present peripheral and historical
information. This information can be
obtained by sophisticated methods such
as computer modelling, polling, surveying,
or it can be compiled through retroactive
analysis of past trends.
 Synthesizing many factors and
considering a multitude of
variables allow humans to simplify
the complexity and chaos of the
interrelatedness of events into a
reality that can accommodate
present modalities of thought.
(Cornish 2004)
 What is a fad?
Fads are normally micro trends that
exist under the umbrella of an actual trend
(Naisbitt 2006).
Trends are often classified as
short-term- one to three years,
mid-term- three to ten years, or
long-term- ten to 50 years (Cornish 2004)
 Thinking of trends along a linear
timeline however is not always correct
as trends can revert back on
themselves becoming cyclical or
trends can fuse or converge with
other trends occurring in the same
time frame (Canton 2006).
 Trending is an important skill in the 21st
century affording those inclined a portal
into the future. In addition, trends allow for
pre-emptive judgments and actions toward
future events and conditions.
 Due to the interrelatedness of all
things in the universe, trends are a
complex fusion of past, present, and
future information and represent
human’s best guess predictions over
time.
 The trend toward portable music
players, on the other hand, started
with the invention of big, heavy,
portable “boom boxes” and morphed
into personal CD players-continuing
to grow and change into the MP3
portable music player phenomenon
that we see today.
 Fad Defined

• Something, such as an interest or

Fad fashion, that is very popular for a

short time (Merriam-Webster’s
Learner’s Dictionary)

• Is a product that has little, if any,

utility but is characterized by a
Fad quick rise in sales and popularity
followed by a quick decline in
sales and popularity.
 This quick up and down in sales is
because fad products usually do not
satisfy a strong consumer need.
Nevertheless, fads seldom completely die
out with some hardcore followers
remaining loyal.
Let’s look at some classic
examples of fad:
Virtual
hula hoop Yo-yo
pets

Frisbee Pokemon Hello Kitty

loomband
Exercise
DIRECTION:
• Write a 100-word essay. You may choose from any
these two titles:
 “Which Fad or Trend Shall I Accept or Reject?”
 “How Do I Accept or Reject a Trend?”
1. How can I intelligently spot,
accept, or reject any emerging fad
or trend?