Emily Marincic likes to mimic one of the most popular social media trends. She sits in front of the mirror, props up her phone, and records her morning routine. She’s following the viral Get Ready With Me fad.
Using social media as a way to see how others live is not a new concept. From the millions of views on YouTube vlogs and pinterest boards, it’s an understatement to say that people are nosy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, isolation only emphasized our natural desire for human connection. The short natured content provided by TikTok and Instagram has allowed for a quick fix to this necessity.
Minute-long videos inviting the viewer to “Get Ready With Me”, have clouded for-you pages across the world. The trend’s relatability and vulnerability has caused it to gain major attention across all social media platforms. From preparing for a red carpet event, to a 10-hour minimum wage shift, there is a “Get Ready With Me” for any audience.
For creators, GRWM content offers a place to tell stories, share beauty secrets, and connect with the viewer
“It is a vehicle for storytelling,” Earnest Pettie, a trends insight lead at YouTube, told Inc, “It becomes an excuse to share something about your life.”
#GRWM, has over 10.9 million videos on TikTok, 3.9 million on Instagram, and 2.1 million on Facebook. But, what is continuously driving these numbers up?
A common assumption about the popular trend is solely product placement. Many influencers post these videos as sponsorships for profit, or simply to demonstrate their liking for a product, especially when it comes to the beauty industry.
The vice president of sales at Influencer Marketing Factory, Nicla Bartoli, told Inc that Get Ready With Me videos allows new viewers to feel more invited to the channel and the creator, but also to attract the viewer to products the creator uses.
Even celebrities and “it girls” have hopped on the bandwagon, often to promote their brands or sponsored brand deals.
Nevertheless, Get Ready With Me videos aren’t always about product placement. For some people, they’re a way to unwind or to relive past memories.
“I usually binge watch them before bed,” said Senior Issy Cameron.
“I make them for myself, to see what parts of my routine change,” said Emily Marincic.
Research behind the appeal of the Get Ready With Me content has stemmed back to the appeal for the use of social media itself. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many online users relied on social media to stay connected to friends and family in an isolated physical world. Get Ready With Me videos highlight this continued need to connect, giving viewers an intimate relationship they might not otherwise have access to.
Stated in an article by the Denver Post, Camilla Ramirez Diaz uses GRWM videos for beauty recommendations and more personalized content.
“[It’s] like watching your friend on FaceTime with you. I could sit there all day and watch Get Ready with Me videos from different creators. They’re just a mix of everything,” Diaz said.
So next time when you open up social media to find a Get Ready With Me video, perhaps embrace the individuality in each routine, or maybe grab some new beauty tips, but at the heart of all this content, you will be guaranteed to find human connection.