Stanley cups are about more than a bottle
My social media feed has been filled with Stanley cups lately – I’ve seen videos of people waiting hours in line to get the latest exclusive cup. The cup seems to be coveted especially by women and teen girls.
Yes, Stanley cups are a practical utility item but they’ve grown to be something more. The cups are now a symbol of social status, a form of self-expression, and a measure of popularity and acceptance.
When it comes to owning a trendy Stanley cup, there's more to this bottle than meets the eye. Stanley cups are a social trend that currently act as social currency.
Social currency is something that can boost or elevate your reputation. With a Stanley cup, you use it as currency when you post a photo of it online to boost your confidence and to help others view you differently.
Stanley cups are giving people a sense of value while meeting the human need to feel like you belong and are significant.
As adults and teens alike are drawn to this trend, it parallels many things in the intricate world of social dynamics. These dynamics show reasons that help us to understand why the bottle has become such a point of content and such a strong social currency, especially for teens.
Here are three reasons behind the Stanley’s current craze:
1. The Scarcity Model
The hype surrounding the Stanley water bottle among millennials, Gen Z, and even Gen Alpha preteens is not accidental; it's a manifestation of the scarcity model in action. The concept that something is rare or limited edition creates a frenzy, and the Stanley water bottle perfectly exemplifies this. (Just look at the long lines some people have waited in for a bottle!)
Additionally, the affordable scarcity of the Stanley water bottle taps into the fundamental human need to belong. Anyone can have this if they are just able to access it.
So now, people aren't just buying a water bottle; they're investing in a sense of belonging to the exclusive Stanley Club.
2. The Emotional Purchase Decision
Stanley cups have an emotional connection to social status. Girls are getting ridiculously excited and overjoyed just to have it, which is adding further fuel to the Stanley stampede.
Teens aren’t purchasing the cup for only its features and functionality; they are buying it for the emotions it brings.
3. FOMO
Stanley cups also have a culture of FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out, surrounding them. FOMO is formed in culture – on television, in schools, or especially on social media – and tells you that you need to fit in through your actions, looks, and materials. On social media, Stanley cups are being shown as the “it” item to have.
With the cup, you have a way to connect and fit in.
I’ve even seen videos online of girls screaming and crying when they do or don’t get the bottle. One Gen Alpha expressed that she wanted the cup because all the girls at her school had one.
A parent perspective on Stanleys
Amidst this obsession, though, there’s another dynamic that’s crucial for us to observe. Parents play into how teens view things like the Stanley obsession. It is essential that parents recognize how concerns of social media use, screen time and internet safety play into trends.
First, parents should openly discuss obsession and addiction with teens. It’s especially vital for parents to address social media addiction. Teens often find trends like Stanley cups online and can become obsessed about it through many hours of media usage.
To help overcome this, parents can teach their teens about balancing time off and online through open conversations. Teens need to learn how social media has unrealistic portrayals of emotions, looks, lifestyle and more.
Also, teens must understand how social media can cause them to struggle with comparison and keep them from discovering their authentic selves. Parents can emphasize that true worth lies not in possessions but in the depth of experiences and genuine relationships.
Modeling values to teens
Additionally, as parents, it's crucial to model values to kids that transcend the superficial allure of Stanley cups and other trends.
Teens watch their parents — they look to them as an example and model. Teens notice if parents are obsessed over items, like bottles or social media. Modeling values that prioritize authenticity over material possessions and screen time can help guide teens.
For example, parents can encourage teens the importance of finding their true identity. Parents should teach teens that identity isn’t’ found in the virtual world but in meaningful connections and experiences.
Additionally, parents can model the level-headedness and wisdom needed to navigate social trends and expectations. A little sound wisdom goes a long way in helping guide teens’ choices and conversations.
Engaging in Meaningful Conversation
Stanley cups are about more than a bottle.
The Stanley water bottle obsession highlights the power of trends and the gamut of emotions and social dynamics that drive our choices. Parents can guide teens toward a more balanced perspective on trends like this by addressing the concerns of teens, understanding the impact of social media, and modeling authentic values.
I encourage you parents to engage in open and thoughtful conversations with your teens about Stanley cups and other trends. Meaningful discussions are so essential.
When talking with youth, be sure to create a safe space in conversation by listening to your teen and giving them room to share their perspective.
Parents, here are four questions to help you get started on a conversation with your teen:
1. In general, how does social media make you feel about yourself and your life?
2. How do you feel after you’ve spent a long period of time scrolling on social media?
3. Currently, what trends or trendy products do you own?
4. Are there other trends you feel pressured to follow or own? Why?
Gale McKoy Wilkins is a wife, mom, grandparent and family life coach. She is the founder of Project Arrow, an evidence-based peer-to-peer and leadership program teaching middle, high school and first-year college students how to deal with trauma and crisis using life coaching. It's the first life coaching organization in the state to receive funding from the Department of Public Instruction and the first to implement life coaching in a school setting.
