The New Year has always been a time of celebration, renewal, and unity. However, since the advent of social media, how we experience and share these traditions has undergone profound transformations.

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X influence how we celebrate and shape our perceptions of traditions, globalize customs, and create new social dynamics. This article explores how social media is reshaping New Year celebrations, highlighting the benefits of this global connection and the challenges it presents.

Globalization of New Year traditions

Social media is a window into different cultures, allowing New Year traditions to be known, shared, and adopted globally.

• Real-Time Cultural Exchange: Users share videos and photos that showcase how each country celebrates the New Year. Practices like eating 12 grapes in Spain or carrying empty suitcases in some Latin American countries to attract travel are spreading to other parts of the world, inspiring people to try new rituals.

• Adaptation and Innovation: Influencers often share lists of "luck rituals" or quirky traditions, encouraging their followers to incorporate these practices into their celebrations. This dissemination creates a cultural mix that enriches many people's repertoire of traditions.

Amplification of superstitions and rituals

New Year superstitions, often linked to clothing colors or foods, have gained prominence and gone viral on social media.

• The Influence of Colors: Posts explaining the meanings of colors, such as yellow for wealth and red for love, have become popular, influencing clothing choices worldwide.

• Hashtags and Challenges: Movements like #NewYearRituals or #Superstitions2024 encourage people to share their practices, creating a virtual community where these traditions are reimagined and propagated.

Online sharing and the aesthetic of celebrations

Pursuing visually perfect moments to share online has influenced how people celebrate New Year.

• Visual Spectacles: Fireworks and light shows are designed to create stunning images, ensuring clicks and engagement on social media.

• Instagrammable Events: Themed parties and elaborate decorations have gained prominence, with organizers investing in setups that can go viral, enhancing the visual appeal of celebrations.

While this makes celebrations more attractive, it can also create pressure to create "perfect" moments, shifting focus away from genuine experiences.

Transformation of New Year resolutions

Social media has reinvented the concept of New Year resolutions, turning it into a collective sharing phenomenon.

• Viral Lists and Inspirations: Hashtags like #NewYearNewMe or #Goals2024 promote exchanging ideas for personal objectives, creating an environment of mutual motivation.

• Tools and Technology: Influencers recommend apps and digital methods to track goals, encouraging more organized and connected lifestyles.

While this can inspire, there is also the risk of constant comparison, which can generate anxiety and demotivation.

Global connection and benefits

Despite the challenges, social media brings significant benefits to New Year traditions:

• Sense of Unity: Seeing simultaneous celebrations worldwide creates a sense of global belonging, bringing people from different cultures closer.

• Collective Inspiration: Stories of overcoming challenges, achievements, and new perspectives shared online motivate others to pursue their dreams and goals in the coming year.

• Access to Ideas and Resources: From recipes for the feast to decoration suggestions, social media democratizes access to information that makes celebrations more special.

Challenges of the digital world in festivities

However, the impact of social media on New Year celebrations also presents issues:

• Pressure for Perfection: The relentless pursuit of creating share-worthy moments can distance people from a genuine and spontaneous experience.

• Exacerbated Consumerism: Promotions and trends highlighted online encourage unnecessary purchases, turning the celebration into a commercial event.

• Social Disconnection: Focusing on capturing and posting moments often harms authentic interactions with friends and family.

Balancing the digital and the real

Making the most of social media without losing the essence of celebrations requires balance:

• Prioritize the Moment: Photographing and sharing are valid, but dedicating time to disconnect and live in the present is essential.

• Celebrate with Intention: Getting inspiration from social media while keeping traditions' personal and family significance in mind helps maintain their authenticity.

• Share Responsibly: Sharing rituals and resolutions can be inspiring, but avoiding excessive comparisons and respecting personal limits is important.

A connected and authentic New Year

Social media has transformed New Year celebrations into a global experience where ancient traditions and new forms of expression coexist harmoniously. While these platforms can create challenges, they offer unique opportunities for inspiration, cultural exchange, and connection.

This New Year, use social media to celebrate, learn, and inspire, but without losing sight of what truly matters: being present, valuing real connections, and renewing hopes for the future—both online and offline. After all, the true spirit of New Year lies in the unity and celebration of the endless possibilities that a new cycle brings.

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References

HALLINAN, B. et al. The value(s) of social media rituals: a cross-cultural analysis of New Year’s resolutions. Information, Communication & Society, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 764–785, 20 Oct. 2021.

TRILLÒ, T.; HALLINAN, B.; SHIFMAN, L. A typology of social media rituals. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, vol. 27, no. 4, 14 Jul. 2022.

SHISHU®️, M. The influence of social media on New Year celebrations. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/influence-social-media-new-year-celebrations-myshishu-di2tc. Accessed on: Nov. 26, 2024.