“Over 10 million photos that mentioned Thanksgiving-themed words in their captions were shared yesterday,” Instagram, the famous social media platform for sharing photos and videos, announced after the Thanksgiving holiday in 2012. “For several hours throughout the day, more than 200 photos about Thanksgiving were posted every second.” It was the busiest day the network had ever had. One year later, Instagram users broke the upload record with even more pictures and have continued to post at this rate on Thanksgiving each year.
Social media has also played an impactful role in the Thanksgiving menu. From TikTok stuffing hacks to Instagram-worthy charcuterie boards, social media is now one of the most powerful influences on how people cook. Some viral Thanksgiving dishes that have made their way to the table are Tini’s Mac & Cheese, deep-fried turkeys, charcuterie boards, and so many more. These foods started to be added as an addition and some have even replaced traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
Food isn’t the only thing that has been increasingly commercialized. As seen on Instagram, it isn’t enough just to have the perfect spread; the decorations need to be perfect too. It’s a problem that extends past Thanksgiving – waste from seasonal decorations is a problem for other major holidays as well. Humanity’s waste production increases between 25%-43% during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Although it may seem festive at the time, spending money on excess seasonal decorations leads to increases in landfills and waste production, harming our environment.
Overall, social media has greatly changed our perception of Thanksgiving from a simple, family-centered celebration to a highly commercialized event. While social media can be useful for providing decoration inspiration and new recipes, they have also contributed to a rise in consumer culture and pressure to have the perfect holiday. Instead of feeling the need to post the perfect meal or have the most aesthetic decorations, it’s important to balance your spending habits and stay focused on what Thanksgiving is really about: family and gratitude.
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