Costume Repetition: In. People-pleaser: Out. Pay in cash: In. Photo dump: out. A quick scan of social media reveals that the traditional New Year’s resolution list has been published for 2025, with the addition of an “inside and out” list.
These lists do exactly what their title suggests, separating everything from specific clothing items to broad food trends to dating rules into two opposing grids. On TikTok, the hashtag “In and Out” quickly gained over 44,000 posts. Unlike New Year’s resolutions, which tend to be concrete goals, “inside and out” serves as a barometer of coolness.
So why do they spam our timelines? Liza Walter-Nelson, president of the British Psychological Society’s Occupational Psychology Division, says part of their appeal is that they don’t take so much effort to come together. He says it’s not necessary. “It can be a fun and engaging way to share personal goals or social criticism, or it can be completely performative to get likes and attention,” she says. I say. In short: “They’re a cakewalk.”
Some lists appear as screenshots taken from the user’s iPhone Notes app, creating a sense of familiarity. Others are carefully placed above inspirational images and videos. While fashion influencer Camille Charrière’s list includes visibly worn-out clothes, hard conversations, library cards, and boogers on the dance floor, her out section includes: This includes things like bags, drunk texts, and in-flight meals. Meanwhile, Substack writer Jess Graves defends paywalls, pavlova, and purple (especially lavender) in her newsletter The Love List, while Vogue magazine Weddings, photo booths and buttonhole flowers are declared over. The brat mood of 2024 shows no signs of quietly letting up, with dancing and smoking appearing on numerous lists, while chat GPT and mentions of billionaires are off the list, and more popular among Millennials and Gen Z. It suggests a wide range of moods.
“People with finer tastes will look to independent designers and manufacturers to differentiate themselves,” predicts The Love List. This is Celia Pym, a textile artist. Photo: Suki Dhanda/Observer
Listicles are clearly not a new concept. In 1978, Washington Post fashion editor Nina Hyde published an annual feature on funk, Gloria Steinem’s wire-rimmed glasses, Farrah Fawcett’s curls, ties, plunging necklines, and loose mannish jackets. We launched an annual special issue that suggested that Anyone with a social media account can suggest a list of things they think have a taste-setter and cultural reputation. Many of these lists go viral and tap into the broader social media flex culture.
Walter-Nelson explains that today’s iterations are “primarily subjective, reflecting personal opinion rather than any kind of objective data or analysis of objective data.” These seem to be a mix of personal taste and humorous observations, making them more cultural commentary as opposed to the researched, trend-driven originals. ”
Camille Charrière predicts that difficult conversations and library cards will be all the rage in 2025. Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Less rigorous than resolutions, “thorough” focuses on what brings you joy rather than what you need to accomplish over the next 12 months. Some people reach 10,000 steps a day. Some people take a leisurely morning bath or eat salt and vinegar potato chips. Perhaps these small nuggets of insight are driving interest in this trend.
Some lists are self-deprecating, others with severe cynicism. Walter Nelson says it all comes down to tone and emotion. “A judgmental or exclusive ‘in-and-out’ list can reinforce upward social comparisons, with individuals seeing themselves as falling short of the content. This creates a sense of inadequacy. It can lead to emotions, envy, and low self-esteem.”
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But with many big companies looking to participate by posting their own microtrends on LinkedIn, it probably won’t be long before Information and Information is officially announced.
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