1. Being a “Dog Parent”
Pet ownership has always been big, but in 2025, calling yourself a dog parent is practically a lifestyle genre. Americans are spending more on their pets than ever—dog strollers, raw food subscriptions, matching outfits, and yes, birthday cakes are all normal now. People refer to their dogs as their “children” and themselves as “fur moms” or “fur dads” without irony. If you’re not FaceTiming your dog during work trips, are you even trying?
According to the American Pet Products Association, U.S. pet industry spending is expected to exceed $150 billion in 2025. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, are delaying or forgoing having children but investing emotionally and financially in their pets. There’s even growing discourse around pet custody agreements in breakups. Having a dog isn’t just about companionship—it’s now a central part of people’s identities and daily routines.
2. Identifying as a “Swiftie”
Being a Taylor Swift fan isn’t just about loving the music anymore—it’s an identity with its own vocabulary, inside jokes, and rituals, according to Angelika Albaladejo of Denver7. From decoding lyrics for Easter eggs to organizing outfit themes for Eras Tour shows, Swifties are bonded by more than just tunes. It’s a global community with the vibe of a fandom and the dedication of a sports team. In 2023 alone, Swift’s tour added over $5 billion to the global economy, and it’s kept climbing.
People proudly include “Swiftie” in their bios, wear friendship bracelets like emotional armor, and use references like “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs” as conversation starters. There’s also a political aspect—Swift’s calls to vote have caused massive spikes in voter registration. In 2025, being a Swiftie isn’t passive. It’s performative, immersive, and, for many, a full-on personality layer.
3. Owning a Stanley Cup Tumbler
What used to be a utilitarian water bottle is now basically a declaration of identity, Alaina Demopoulos of The Guardian explains. The 40-ounce Stanley tumbler has become such a staple—especially among millennials and Gen Z—that it’s a sort of personality shorthand: “hydrated, a little crunchy, maybe a Target regular.” Limited editions are released like sneaker drops, and people post hauls on TikTok. The brand has leaned into the frenzy, collaborating with Starbucks and even issuing restock alerts like it’s Yeezy season.
It’s not just about hydration—it’s a lifestyle. People match their outfits to the color of their cup, customize them with name tags, and even use car accessories designed specifically to hold one. Stanley posted $750 million in sales in 2023, up from just $73 million in 2019, and the trend hasn’t slowed. Having one in hand sends a cultural signal: “I care about aesthetics, function, and probably also skincare.”
4. Having an “I Hate Phones” Stance
There’s a growing crowd of Americans who are loudly anti-smartphone, and somehow that’s turning into a personality flex, according to James Tapper and Aneesa Ahmed of The Guardian. Whether it’s using a Light Phone, setting strict screen limits, or proudly not having social media, some folks treat this like a badge of enlightenment. It’s the digital equivalent of going off the grid—but just enough to still tell people about it. The irony isn’t lost when someone brags about their phone-free lifestyle… on Instagram.
Tech minimalism has picked up speed thanks to wellness trends, growing concern over mental health, and even Silicon Valley leaders like Chris Anderson and Jack Dorsey vocalizing their screen skepticism. The Light Phone II, a minimalist device with no social media or browser, saw a surge in sales between 2022 and 2024. In 2025, choosing not to use your iPhone to its fullest potential isn’t just a preference—it’s practically a philosophy. And yes, there are Substacks about it.
5. Making Your Job Title Your Whole Identity
Hustle culture might be evolving, but a surprising number of Americans still treat their profession like it defines their entire personality, according to Janna Koretz of Harvard Business Review. Whether it’s someone introducing themselves as a “tech founder,” “content creator,” or “educator,” job-as-identity is alive and well. LinkedIn bios have morphed into personal branding statements, and people often turn their careers into TikTok niches. We’re not just what we do—but on social media, it kind of feels like we are.
The rise of “entrepreneurial influencers” and creators monetizing every part of their day has blurred the line between career and personality. According to a 2024 Pew Research report, over 60% of Gen Z believe their job should reflect their passions and values. That’s not a bad thing—but it makes it easy to see how someone might mistake “marketer at a startup” as their defining trait. In 2025, your job isn’t just what you do—it’s who you are in your bio, your brand, and your brunch convos.
6. Diagnosing Yourself with “Main Character Energy”
If you’ve heard someone describe themselves as having “main character energy,” you’ve seen this one in action. Originally a TikTok meme, it’s morphed into a self-affirming personality frame: you’re not just living life, you’re starring in your own cinematic universe, Anna Gotlib of Aeon explains. This mindset often involves curated outfits, slow-mo coffee pours, and montages of walking through cities alone with headphones in. Yes, it’s cute—but also kind of a coping mechanism.
People use “main character” logic to justify taking solo trips, quitting jobs dramatically, or making big life changes based on vibes. Psychologists have pointed out that this can be empowering but also risk creating unrealistic expectations about life being constantly fulfilling. Still, the trend continues strong on TikTok and Instagram Reels, where aesthetics reign supreme. In 2025, calling yourself the main character is a personality trait and a way to frame your narrative.
7. Being “Neurodivergent” as an Aesthetic
The rise in awareness and conversations around neurodivergence has been great—but for some, it’s gone from medical term to quirky label. More people are self-diagnosing with ADHD or autism on TikTok, sharing daily struggles and hacks in ways that blur the lines between lived experience and trend. There’s genuine vulnerability, yes, but there’s also a tendency to treat neurodivergence like a personality type—“I’m not late, I just have time blindness.” It’s complicated, especially when proper diagnosis and support still aren’t accessible to all.
In 2025, content tagged #NeurodivergentLife or #ADHDTok continues to explode, even as mental health professionals warn against self-diagnosis. The intention is often to de-stigmatize, but the commodification of neurodivergence can make it hard to distinguish between genuine advocacy and internet clout. The internet has given people a language for their brains—but sometimes, that language gets aestheticized. It’s a fine line between empowerment and identity cosplay.
8. Being Obsessed With Your Zodiac Sign
Horoscopes used to be a guilty pleasure, but in 2025, astrology is practically a personality framework. It’s not just your sun sign—people casually drop their full big three (sun, moon, and rising) like it’s a prerequisite for being understood. Someone might explain their indecision with, “It’s the Libra in me,” or justify ghosting with, “I’m a Scorpio, sorry!” It’s playful, but for many, it’s also a real system for navigating relationships, careers, and moods.
Apps like Co–Star and The Pattern still have millions of users, and TikTok astrology creators have built entire platforms offering cosmic life advice. For Gen Z in particular, astrology has become a tool for self-reflection and bonding—sort of like a personality test with vibes. It’s not that people think stars determine everything, but believing in “Mercury retrograde chaos” gives meaning to otherwise random mishaps. In short: your star chart might say more about your social life than your resume does.
9. Political Identity as a Personality
In today’s America, being “blue” or “red” doesn’t just describe your vote—it often defines your entire vibe. Whether someone proudly rocks a “Pro-Choice” tote or flies a “Let’s Go Brandon” flag, political affiliation has become personal branding. People are increasingly curating their media, friendships, and even dating preferences based on shared ideology. “No conservatives” and “no libs” show up in dating bios more often than “loves dogs” these days.
This polarization isn’t new, but social media has intensified the tendency to wear politics like fashion. According to Pew Research, the number of Americans who see members of the other party as a threat to the country continues to climb each year. While being civically engaged is crucial, the line between values and personality trait gets blurry. In 2025, political identity is often shorthand for who you are, who you’re not, and what kind of memes you post.
10. Being a “Coffee Snob”
Coffee used to be just a drink—now it’s practically a subculture. People identify as pour-over purists, oat milk latte lovers, or cold brew devotees like it’s a birthright. Your method (Chemex? AeroPress?) and your local café order say as much about you as your Myers-Briggs type. And don’t even think about offering a K-Cup loyalist advice on grind size.
The U.S. specialty coffee market is now worth over $55 billion, and independent cafés are thriving despite the dominance of Starbucks. Gen Z especially sees coffee rituals as both aesthetic and emotionally grounding, leading to viral trends like “morning matcha routines” and “latte art therapy.” It’s not just caffeine—it’s ceremony. And in 2025, a coffee order can read like a dating profile.
11. Living the “Hot Girl Walk” Lifestyle
The “Hot Girl Walk” started as a TikTok trend, but it’s now a full-fledged wellness identity. Coined by Mia Lind in 2021, it involves walking 2–4 miles while thinking about your goals, gratitude, and hotness—and people genuinely treat it like a spiritual practice. It’s not just a walk, it’s a way of being. Influencers post playlists, walking fits, and morning mantras tied to their personal brand of hot girl self-care.
Fitness brands have capitalized on the trend, with walk-friendly activewear lines and curated “Hot Girl Walk” Spotify mixes. In a world where high-intensity workouts feel intimidating, the walk is approachable, meditative, and Instagrammable. More than just movement, it’s a mental reset people wear like a lifestyle badge. If someone says “I’m a hot girl walker,” you immediately get the vibe.
12. Owning a BookTok Shelf
BookTok—the literary corner of TikTok—has become so influential that its aesthetic now functions as a personal brand. People curate rainbow bookshelves, annotate with pastel sticky notes, and collect special editions like they’re NFTs. It’s not just about reading—it’s about looking like a reader. You don’t just love Colleen Hoover or Sarah J. Maas—you arrange your shelf to make that clear at a glance.
Publishing houses now tailor marketing strategies specifically to BookTok influencers, and in 2024, TikTok officially became the number-one driver of book sales in the U.S. Bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble have “BookTok” tables front and center. The algorithm rewards emotional reactions to books and cozy reading corners, and readers love being part of the conversation. In 2025, having a BookTok shelf means you’re cultured, emotional, and possibly in your “healing era.”
13. Declaring Your “Core” Aesthetic
If your social media bio doesn’t say you’re in your “vanilla girl era,” are you even trying? In recent years, suffixing your entire life with “-core” or calling it an “era” has become a way to define personality through aesthetics. Cottagecore, clean girl, feral girl fall, coastal grandma—you name it, it’s a vibe, and people fully commit. What started as fashion or interior inspiration has become a way to self-identify.
TikTok and Pinterest helped accelerate this trend, giving people visual languages to explain their moods and goals. The thing is, many treat their current “core” as a true reflection of self, even if it changes monthly. According to trend forecasting reports, micro-aesthetics have become key drivers in retail and content creation strategies. In 2025, your core isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s how you explain your entire existence.
