“To be cringe is to be free.” 

This newly-born motto is how many young people decide to live their life. But cringe culture isn’t the problem — it’s the perception of ourselves that holds us back.

Cringe is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “causing feelings of acute embarrassment or awkwardness; that makes one cringe; cringeworthy.” The term has become common among younger generations, reflecting a growing focus on our public image.

As words such as “cringe” and “performative” become more widespread, people are increasingly conscious of how they are perceived by society. This heightened awareness raises questions of whether scrutiny discourages individuals from expressing their true individuality. 

Insecurity has always been an emotion felt within all demographics, but putting a more negatively-attributed title to the feeling of insecurity has caused kids, teens and young adults to be overly aware of their actions to the point of feeling intense embarrassment. It’s not until a later stage in life that many people let go of this feeling.

Cringe culture is heavily focused on younger demographics, where kids are intent on being the coolest or most agreeable version of themselves to avoid rejection by their peers. As these kids grow and become their own person, this fear of rejection commonly dissipates and is replaced by confidence in who they are.

Conversations surrounding cringe culture often focus on younger generations’ fear of judgement, but they fail to recognize how this fear slowly leaves our minds as we grow older and become more independent people. 

Using a stronger, more widely recognized term than “embarrassment” can intensify the emotion, but it’s ultimately up to individuals to decide whether they want to live by society’s definition of what is “cringe.” It is less about the culture around the term cringe and more about how people decide to perceive their own actions and traits.

For example, if you feel that your music taste doesn’t align with the taste of your peers, you have the choice of hiding and changing your taste to avoid any scrutiny from those around you — or you can stay true to yourself. Sharing your taste without the fear of rejection is ultimately a testament to staying true to yourself. 

People of all ages are quick to blame social media for the feelings they have about themselves. But it is how you perceive yourself and how much you value others’ opinions that determines whether you hide who you are or let your personality shine.

Although freeing yourself from the shackles of societal rejection is an age-old tale, it is one that present generations and the generations to come will have to learn on their own, no matter the new vocabulary that comes with it. 

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