Trends, Networks, and Critical

Thinking in the 21st Century

Quarter 3 – Module 2:
Understanding the Elements and
Characteristics of a Trend

Lesson Understanding the Elements and

1 Characteristics of a Trend

When you see cumulonimbus clouds suddenly formed within the horizon, you would
probably guess that a rain or thunderstorm is imminent. When rain comes moments later,
surely you would exclaim that you were right about your guess. You were able to spot an
incoming rain. That was about spotting an incoming rain, but, how about a trend? Can
you spot a trend? In the previous module, you were introduced to the descriptions,
definitions and distinctions between a trend and a fad. In this module, you will learn to
spot the elements of a trend, and what characterizes it from microtrends and macrotrends
at one end to megatrends and gigatrends at the other. What starts as barely perceptible
oscillations in our immediate environment may become the great movements of history. The
trick is to spot which ones will develop and how far it will last. Some people like to
categorize trends and a good place for you is to start this hierarchy.

What’s New

Directions: Examine the pictures below. Describe each picture briefly. Write your answers on
a separate sheet of paper.
 1. 2.

This Photo by Unknown Author i s

licensed under CC BY-NC

3. 4.

5. 6.
7. 8.

This Photo by Unknown Author i s

licensed under CC BY-NC

9. 10.

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 What is It

What makes a trend a trend? In the previous module, you have

learned the distinction between a fad and a trend. A trend is a pattern of behavior demonstrated
by a big number of people within a particular period and that which continuously grow and
evolve overtime while a fad is an intense but short-lived fashion. With this distinction, we can
therefore identify the elements which comprise a trend. In this regard, Urgel (2017)
enumerated the following elements and characteristics of a trend:

Elements of a Trend

1. Number of participants pertains to people who follow a certain trend which is started
by an individual or a group of people. The group then grows into a community, and
eventually swells into national and international societies. For example, the prevailing
fashion of a period, follows what celebrities are wearing or what fashion designers offer.
People often copy the trendsetters and so a new fashion trend develops. In the recent
century, styles of clothing are usually distinguished by decades. One example of this
is denim jeans that became a casual wear by all genders on a regular basis. Jeans are
especially perfect for crafting swoon-worthy ensembles mostly due to the fact that they work
well with just about anything especially when it comes to different looks (Griswold and
Maguire 2020).

2. Pattern of behavior refers to a trend that is formed from repetitive actions of people.
For example, the simple act of taking a selfie has now become a cultural trend. It is
almost impossible not to see someone taking a selfie in any place - be it in a tourist spot, in
a restaurant, in a hotel lobby, beside a movie poster in a cinema, in a concert hall, and
at an event, among others. Before smartphones and portable digital cameras, pictures or
portraits were taken by another person. The selfie phenomenon enabled people to
construct themselves visually and present it to the public by putting it on social media.
Others view the taking of selfies with disdain as a symbol of narcissism and superficiality,
while others consider it as an act of self-exploration and a gauge for acceptance.

Taking groufies has been prevalent that everyone is into it, too.
3. Long period of time is one of the crucial elements of a trend which means that a trend has to
have a long-time frame, sometime running for decades. A trend may experience some
ups and downs in popularity, may fade away, and may recur. A good example of this

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 element of trend is the telephone. It is a communication instrument that revolutionized
modern living and created various social impacts. It was soon overtaken by the popularity
of mobile phones in the late 1990s that have text messaging feature. Then newer
technologies allowed smartphones to include many applications and internet connectivity.
Although telephones are still present in homes and offices, smartphones clearly have
gotten ahead in functionality and usage.

The picture shows the evolution of cellphones over the years.

4. Cause refers to the starting point of a trend which can be an idea, a technology, an event
or a person. All trends have beginnings and someone or somebody definitely started it. The
question here is, how did it start? Now, this becomes quite obvious as all material elements
of a culture started with one’s ideas, therefore, it is also conclusive that one starting
point of a trend was an idea. Someone or somebody thought about it in the first place.
Let us go back to the evolution of telephone mentioned above. If you will try to think about
it, it was Alexander Graham Bell who first invented and engineered the very first
telephone back in 1876 (https://www.britannica.com). What do you think prompted
him to such an endeavor? Well, if you guessed that it began with an idea of bridging the gap
of a long – distance relations though live voice communication then you must be right.
So, besides the snail mails which were already prevalent those times, people had another
option – the telephone. Fast forward a bit, back in the late 1990’s, these messages
through mails or letters evolved and entered the digital world through beepers while
telephones also evolved into cellular mobile phones. At present, all those separate features
plus some more were combined into the devices we presently called “smartphones.”
Believe it or not, all of these were one’s ideas which eventually turned into a reality.

The Walkman revolutionized music playing.

Portable audio players today can trace back their roots
to the Walkman.

5. Consequence refers to the considerable impact or

influence of a trend. Social networking has become an
encompassing trend that tends to influence behaviors of
online users. With the popularity of smartphones, users
began subscribing to various social networking portals which enable them to post activity
statuses and photos, and even connect with celebrities. Currently, these social media
platforms and their messaging and video conferencing features are finding their relevance
today especially for the students and teachers. For example, due to the pandemic, teachers,
students and parents use these features for the virtual teaching and learning process.

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 However, this trend can also create a rather negative consequence among its
followers. One example is depicted on the illustration below. Quality time among family
members to share one another’s presence is being diverted to other less relevant
concerns brought about by the social media. They can literally be described as “near yet
so far” which means that they may be physically near each other, in fact, sharing food on
the same table, yet their attention is far from the family moment.

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.

Characteristics Microtrends Macrotrends Megatrends Gigatrends

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 Descriptions These are These are These are These are
and Features “little things “aggregated macrotrends “trends that
that happen all microtrends or that have are so
around us all the more sweeping grown up and general that
time, the tiny changes that moved out. They they affect
shifts that occur are affecting are big, bold most areas
in society.” They and affect the lives of human
everything provide major of great swathes life─ or, at
from clothes changes that of the human least, more
we wear and are race.” They can than one
the snacks we perceptible last for decades aspect of life
eat to the way in the and are “so or more than
we work, play, societal level pervasive as to one industry.”
and love.” These for a longer be generally They are
trends happen period known.” They usually
right now and have become the identified to
are outright prevailing define an era
observable. condition that
has become too
normal.

Example/s Varying Smartphones Internet or

Smartphone Smartphone which are the World
Apps/Games brands dependent on Wide Web
which (iPhones vs. the internet. which may
android Smartphones be considered
are dependent
phones) Battle are widely as the soul of
on the
for popularity used almost all
capabilities of
of these by almost all technology.
a smartphone
smartphones people in the
(these
world.
apps/games
oftentimes
lose their
popularity
overtime).

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.

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 What I Have Learned

Directions: Answer the following questions to establish your learnings

on the elements and characteristics of a trend. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. What generates a trend? Who are involved in creating a trend?

2. Why is time frame important in a trend?

3. What are the issues and opportunities brought about by trends? How do we respond
during this time of pandemic?

4. Name five trends and classify them according to the hierarchy of trends. Explain why
each is a trend and why you classify it as such.

Trend Classification Reason Hierarchy

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Assessment

A. Multiple Choice: Read and analyze the statements carefully. Choose the letter of
the correct answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. These are little things that happen all around us all the time, the tiny shifts that
occur in everything from the clothes we wear, and the snacks we eat, the way we
work, play and love.
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Microtrends
2. They can last for decades and are so pervasive as generally known.
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Microtrends 3.
This is synonymous to fads.
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Microtrends
4. This refers to aggregated microtrends or more sweeping changes that affects the
society.
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Microtrends
5. This refers to the characteristic of trends that generally affects most areas of human
life.
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Microtrends
6. This refers to the characteristic of trends that provide major changes perceptible in
the societal level for a longer period.
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Microtrends
7. The following statements are true about elements of a trend except . A.
A trend is formed from repetitive actions of people.
B. A trend that has a long-time frame, sometime running for decades. C.
Trends have long staying power and enjoy a long period of popularity.
D. The lifespan of products or ideas that became trends do not disappear
quickly.
8. Which of the following is not an element of trend?
A. cause C. consequence
B. truth D. long period of time
9. The following are elements or components of a trend except . A.
long period of time
B. pattern of behavior
C. strategic alternatives
D. number of participants
10. The following are the characteristics or the hierarchy of a trend except
A. Gigatrends C. Megatrends
B. Macrotrends D. Nanotrends

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11. Which of the following statements is not true about the characteristics of a trend? A. A
trend makes considerable influence or impact.
B. A trend is formed from non-repetitive actions of people.
C. A trend has a starting point which can be an idea, technology, event or person.
D. A trend may be started by an individual, but the number of followers
increases in a certain period of time.
12. A good number of Filipinos have turned to the Middle East and the US to seek greener
pastures. This trend has continued because of severe economic depression, political
repression, and the lack of viable job opportunities in the Philippines. Which of
the following significant social trends is being described in this given scenario?
A. the rise of OFWs C. changing roles of women
B. high employment D. religious fundamentalism
13. The current obsession with health and well-being is one of the positive trends today.
Which of the following practices is not a manifestation of coping up with this given trend?
A. hair straightening and skin whitening as beauty regimen
B. the immensely popular application of meditation practices
C. organic farming as an alternative to synthetic and chemical-laden products
D. exercise and extreme sports for those who can afford the luxuries of
enrolling in a gym or engaging in elite sports

14. As the workforce continues to relocate across the country and out of large cities,
organizations will need to invest heavily in technology that enables the future of
remote work. While this trend continues, which of the following predictions/
inventions or events do you think is most likely to happen?
A. People will come into the office less and potentially on a staggered
schedule.
B. Consumers will demand more than just a functional product from
technology brands.
C. Companies will need to optimize their in-office setups to make sure that days
in the office have collaboration benefits worth the cost of a commute.
D. Technologies will impact our lives the most in the next year and beyond
and will enable people to shift into a new work-life balance where they have
more flexibility to choose when and where they do either.

15. The latest research has shown that 42 percent of the U.S. labor force is now
working from home, but even after the pandemic, the anticipated share of
working-from-home days is set to triple compared to pre-pandemic levels. While this
trend continues, which of the following predictions, inventions and events do you
think is most likely to happen?
A. Now many people are working, learning, and keeping everyone
entertained from home seven days a week.
B. Video streaming, which has seen tremendous growth in adoption this
year, will undoubtedly continue to be a major part of the way we live
and do business after the pandemic recedes.

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C. The data sharing and open collaboration practices that have been crucial
to the fight against COVID will lead to greater public-private and cross-
industry collaboration moving forward.
D. Videoconferencing may be the tool professionals have been looking for to
achieve that highly sought-after but elusive goal of work life balance.

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