How Much of Me Comes From My Culture vs My Algorithm?

When thinking about culture, it is easy to focus only on the traditions and values that come from our family or the communities we grow up in. However, cultural psychology has made me realize that culture is constantly changing, and today a major influence on identity comes from globalization and media. Growing up with social media means that my cultural experiences have not only been shaped by the people around me but also by people and ideas from all around the world.

Globalization refers to the way cultures become connected and influence each other through things like technology, travel, and media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have made it possible for trends, ideas, and behaviours to spread almost instantly across different countries. Because of this, many aspects of my identity, such as my interests, style, humour, and even the way I communicate, have been influenced by a much larger global culture.

Before reflecting on this, I never really thought about how much social media shaped my everyday behaviours. The clothes I like, the products I buy, the music I listen to, and even the slang I use are often influenced by trends that did not originate in my own community. Someone living across the world can influence my decisions without me ever meeting them. This shows how culture is no longer limited to the physical places where we live.

My experiences creating content for social media have made me even more aware of this influence. Through working as a campus ambassador and creating online content, I have seen how certain trends and styles can connect large groups of people. A specific sound, joke, aesthetic, or type of video can become recognizable to millions of people. Even though everyone watching may come from different cultural backgrounds, they are participating in a shared digital culture.

At the same time, social media has also made me think about how online cultures can influence the way people view themselves. Beauty standards, fashion trends, and lifestyle expectations are constantly changing because we are exposed to so many different influences. While this can be positive because it introduces people to new ideas and forms of self-expression, it can also make it difficult to separate what we genuinely like from what we are repeatedly exposed to.

This connects to cultural psychology because our identities are shaped by the environments we participate in. In the past, culture was mainly transmitted through family, community, and local traditions. While those influences are still important, people today also experience cultural transmission through digital spaces.

Reflecting on my own cultural identity has made me realize that I am influenced by both my personal background and global culture. My family, hometown, and experiences growing up shaped my core values, but social media has also influenced my interests and how I express myself. Culture is not something that stays the same forever; it adapts as the world changes. My identity is a combination of where I come from, the people around me, and the global influences I interact with every day.