Wire headphones and celebrity-induced herd behavior
The likelihood of you passing by others wearing headphones on the Cornell campus is extremely common, but how many of these individuals are using wire headphones over Apple Airpods or over-ear headphones? More and more people seem to be using wire headphones nowadays… but one can’t help but wonder when and why we decided to revert back to the innovations of the early 2000s? Perhaps this phenomenon can we tied to the herding behavior caused by celebrities and iconic figures we see splattered over tabloids. Famous individuals (and fashion icons) like Bella Hadid and Zoë Kravitz can be blamed for re-introducing the fashion statement behind using wire headphones.
As we have learned in class, information cascades occur when groups of people make decisions sequentially, while herding behavior occurs from groups of people making decisions based on inferences from what earlier people have done. In this instance, herding behavior has developed from the inferences that average people make of the cool factor of celebrities. While most celebrities turn to designer brands and other exclusive items when being styled, other celebrities (like those mentioned above) make direct contradictions to what is otherwise deemed “in style”. With many more reasons to conform, like social pressure, this herd behavior is even more prevalent. The actions of celebrities like Bella Hadid, in wearing wire headphones, give otherwise average people the incentive to make this switch, as we typically turn to celebrities to start trends. This trickling down of niche fads given to us by celebrities goes to show how so many people nowadays are using wire headphones and digs at the question: What celebrity trend will we be influenced to follow next?
WSJ article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/are-airpods-out-why-cool-kids-are-wearing-wired-headphones-11636753407