1. Reality TV
Americans love to roll their eyes at shows like The Bachelor or Love Is Blind, but they’re still tuning in week after week, according to Judy Berman from TIME Magazine. These shows get massive ratings and dominate social media every time a new season drops. People say it’s a guilty pleasure, but honestly, it’s just pleasure—with a little bit of guilt sprinkled in. We pretend to be too “intellectual” for reality TV, but we live for the drama.
It’s not just mindless entertainment—it’s cultural currency. Everyone’s seen at least one Real Housewives meme that perfectly summed up a workplace conflict. And who hasn’t deep-dived into a contestant’s Instagram after an elimination episode? It’s modern-day mythology, and we eat it up.
2. Airline Snacks
Everyone loves to complain about the tiny pretzel packs and cookies on flights, but let’s be honest—there’s something oddly comforting about them, Mark Johanson from the BBC says. Whether it’s the nostalgia, the novelty, or just the fact that they’re free, those snacks always hit different at 30,000 feet. Biscoff cookies especially have a cult following among frequent flyers. People even buy them at the store pretending it’s “for guests” when it’s really for their own secret stash.
The irony is that if these snacks were served at home, they’d be ignored or tossed aside. But in the air? Suddenly, they’re gourmet. We grumble about airline food in general, yet that snack cart rolling down the aisle still gives everyone a little thrill.
3. Pumpkin Spice Everything
Every fall, the internet explodes with jokes about pumpkin spice lattes and how “basic” they are. But Starbucks sells hundreds of millions of PSLs each season, so someone’s clearly ordering them with pride. The backlash is loud, but the demand is louder. People may groan when it hits the menu, yet they line up anyway, according to Jess Cording from Forbes.
It’s not just lattes anymore—it’s cookies, candles, cereal, even dog treats. And guess what? Most of them are pretty good. The flavor reminds people of cozy sweaters, changing leaves, and early holiday vibes. Hating on pumpkin spice has become as cliché as loving it.
4. Fast Food Drive-Thrus
We all pretend to be on some health kick, making kale smoothies and talking about “clean eating,” but those drive-thrus stay busy, according to Kim Severson from The New York Times. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A aren’t raking in billions because nobody’s showing up. There’s a strange comfort in being able to get a hot meal in under five minutes. People talk trash about fast food, but those late-night cravings don’t lie.
Even when it’s not about convenience, it’s about nostalgia. The fries taste the same whether you’re 12 or 42. It’s the kind of consistency life rarely offers. So yeah, we’re still ordering those nuggets—just maybe not posting it on Instagram.
5. Amazon Shopping Sprees
Publicly, everyone’s about “supporting small businesses” and “shopping local,” but Amazon Prime is still king. Over 160 million Americans have a Prime subscription. There’s something irresistible about clicking “Buy Now” and getting a package the next day. Even when people complain about the company’s ethics, they’re still adding to cart.
It’s the modern form of retail therapy. Need a phone charger, cat toy, and yoga mat by Tuesday? Boom—Amazon’s got your back. People love convenience more than they hate corporate giants. And that blue Prime truck? Practically the new ice cream van.
6. Hallmark Christmas Movies
They’re cheesy, predictable, and filmed in the same five towns in Canada—but wow, do people watch them. Every year, Hallmark rolls out dozens of new titles, and the ratings speak for themselves. These movies have a formula, and viewers wouldn’t change a thing. We joke about them, but deep down, they scratch some emotional itch.
They’re comfort food for the eyes. There’s no real suspense, no high-stakes drama—just holiday lights, small-town romance, and a happy ending. It’s like a warm blanket you don’t have to think about. And during stressful times, that’s exactly what people want.
7. Waiting in Line for Free Stuff
You’ll hear people groan about waiting in lines, especially for something small—but tell them there’s free Chick-fil-A or an iPhone giveaway, and they’re there. Americans love a good deal, and free is the ultimate bargain. Black Friday, grand openings, even free cone day at Dairy Queen—they show up. It becomes an event, not just a transaction.
Waiting in line turns into a kind of social experience. Strangers bond, phones come out, people post about it. There’s a dopamine hit when you finally get that freebie. Suddenly, standing around for 40 minutes doesn’t seem so bad.
8. Listening to the Same Songs on Repeat
Everyone claims to love discovering new music, but Spotify Wrapped tells a different story. Year after year, people’s top-played songs are usually the same ones they’ve been looping for ages. It’s about familiarity and mood regulation—those songs know how to hit the spot. Sure, we explore new artists, but when it’s time to feel something? We go back to the old hits.
There’s comfort in predictability, and music is deeply tied to memory. That song from high school, that heartbreak anthem, that summer road trip banger—it sticks. Even if we say we’re “bored” of Top 40, we secretly love the repetition. Our playlists are more honest than our tweets.
9. Posting Complaints on Social Media
It’s almost a national pastime to post a dramatic tweet or a vague Instagram story about how “tired” or “done” we are. People pretend they don’t want attention, but they absolutely want you to ask what’s wrong. Social media is therapy with an audience. The algorithm rewards complaints more than celebrations.
Ironically, these posts create community. Misery loves company, and a good rant gets engagement. Whether it’s traffic, customer service, or the weather, people bond over shared annoyances. It’s performance art, and Americans have mastered it.
10. Awards Shows
People love to say awards shows are boring or irrelevant, but they still tune in for the red carpet and opening monologue. Even if they “hate the Oscars,” they can probably name five snubs off the top of their head. Social media lights up every time someone makes a political speech or wears something outrageous. It’s not about the awards—it’s about the spectacle.
We pretend we don’t care who wins, yet everyone has strong opinions about Best Picture. These shows still draw millions of viewers, especially for the big moments. It’s part of American pop culture canon. We act over it, but we’re never really done.
11. Texting “Sorry, Just Saw This”
Let’s be real: the phone was in your hand the whole time. Americans use this phrase like a get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s the polite way of saying “I ignored this on purpose, but now I feel bad.” Everyone does it, even while laughing about how obvious it is.
It’s a soft lie, but a functional one. We want to dodge confrontation without looking rude. It helps us maintain relationships while setting our own pace. The entire country is low-key ghosting each other—with a smile.
12. Group Chats They Never Contribute To
People love being in the loop, just not necessarily participating. Everyone has that one group chat they barely engage with but refuse to leave. Whether it’s the memes, the occasional tea, or just fear of missing out, they stay. Leaving would feel dramatic, even though they haven’t sent a message in months.
There’s also the safety of silent membership. You get all the updates without doing any of the work. It’s like lurking at a party—you’re technically there. Americans love being included, even passively.
13. Grocery Store Self-Checkout
People complain about how it “eliminates jobs” or how “it never works right,” yet they still choose it over waiting in line. Self-checkout lines are booming, and stores keep adding more machines. It gives a sense of control—scan, bag, pay, and go. No small talk, no awkward coupon moments.
It’s a trade-off most are willing to make. Even with the occasional error message, people would rather fix it than wait behind someone with a full cart. The convenience outweighs the hassle. It’s not perfect, but it’s personal.
14. Nostalgia Marketing
We pretend to roll our eyes when brands bring back old logos, retro cereal boxes, or 90s-style commercials—but it works. Every time. Companies do it because it taps into childhood joy and emotional memory, and Americans eat that stuff up—literally and figuratively. Remember the Pizza Hut red cups or the old-school Pepsi logo? They’re back for a reason.
It makes people feel seen, like their past actually mattered. There’s a shared comfort in remembering simpler times. Whether it’s rewatching Friends or buying a Tamagotchi for your desk, it’s all part of the same impulse. We say we want the new, but our hearts want the old.
