Social Media Stores:

Over the long quarantine, many Miami Palmetto Senior High School students took the free time as an opportunity to rummage through their closets and partake in a sort of spring-cleaning. Eventually, a trend circulating on Instagram popped up that saw many students start to sell their clothes. 

Because COVID-19 has modified many activities, new methods of fundraising have arisen. Lots of Instagram accounts have clever names and now donate a portion of their proceeds to charities of their choice. 

“I started selling [my clothes] so I could raise money for this orphanage in an easy and safe way,” Palmetto senior Gabi Rousseau said. “I raised $400 totally and donated all of it to an all-girls orphanage in Jamaica.” 

Tik Tok:

Another trend that took the world by storm over quarantine was Tik Tok. Many people took part in dances, lip syncs, storytelling and much more. When people had nothing to do, they would go to Tik Tok. 

Tik Tok remains popular and has become addicting to some. With the school year starting, some people chose to delete the app off of their phone, seeing it as a distraction. 

“I used TikTok the whole day during quarantine, day and night,” Palmetto senior Olivia Rapp said. “I deleted it because I knew I was addicted and I know from past experience that if I didn’t delete it my school work wouldn’t be done.”

Tik Tok has had a lot of controversy surrounding it and its possible banning in the US. To relieve Tik Tok users, Walmart plans on buying a 7.5% stake of the company, so that it will not be banned. 

ATHLETICS

Chloe Ting and Jabs by Gina: 

One of the more athletic trends over quarantine included a spike in interest with exercising. Chloe Ting, a 34- year-old YouTuber, statistician and blogger posts her various workout routines on her channel for anyone to watch for free. 

The majority of her workouts last 10-15 minutes, and she makes sure to reach out to fans to see and show off their progress. Ting also has challenges posted on her page, the most popular one being the “Two-Week Shred.” After her classes, many viewers came out of it feeling better about themselves, as they released endorphins during this strenuous time.

Another popular workout trend is Jabs by Gina. This is a virtual kickboxing class on Zoom, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour long. They offer a wide variety of classes, focusing on different muscle groups. Depending on the class taken, prices range from $5 to $10. While the classes are not free, the program still keeps people in shape and feeling good about themselves. They focus on body-positivity and emphasize that anyone can be an athlete.

“I like the positivity that they spread throughout each class and that we are one big team. Before Jabs, I was so self-conscious about my body and myself. It changed my perspective entirely. I feel stronger and more confident as I do each class,” Palmetto senior Emily Cohen said. 

Biking/Walking at a Distance: 

Many people took quarantine as a chance to enjoy nature. Biking and walking distances was very popular at the beginning of quarantine and a lot of people can still be seen on the streets of Pinecrest, getting their exercise and staying physically active, keeping up with their healthy habits.

“I went on walks because it gave me a sense of normalcy. Being stuck at home made me miserable, but whenever I spent time outside, I felt a lot better,” Palmetto senior Sara Alessa said. 

Going on walks and bikes with friends helps people feel a little more normal. It serves as a little getaway for them, while still keeping their distance from their friends.

“I went on most of my walks with friends. Not being able to see them the way I used to was hard but going on walks together was the closest thing to being together normally,” Alessa said. “We always made sure to do it in a safe way and keep our distance.”

CHANGING UP THEIR LOOK

Dying Hair and Tie Dye: 

During quarantine, many people grew tired of their hair colors and decided to spice it up with a little color as an easy and fun activity to do. Colors range from pink, blue, green, purple and more. One of the more popular brands to use for hair dyeing is Colorista.

People also used dye to tie-dye clothes.Whether it was for business purposes or for fun, many people tie dyed at least once over quarantine. A few examples of items people tie dyed include hoodies, bucket hats, sweatpants and shirts.  

Tie-dyeing became popular for social media businesses as well. Some users sold their items and even donated portions of their proceeds to organizations.

Overall, people became very creative over the quarantine, and are still thinking of new ideas to keep themselves busy.

DIY 

Jewelry:

Jewelry-making trends spiked at the beginning of quarantine, with teens making their own jewelry and selling it on social media. Not only did this present a way for them to make money, but it also kept them busy and entertained them throughout the difficulties associated with social isolation.

“I started because there are so many little jewelry accounts and some of them are expensive and I wanted to give people good jewelry for a good price,” Palmetto sophomore Alexa Kates said.

These supplies can be bought at Michaels or any other craft store at relatively cheap prices. The jewelry can be worn during any season, and many Instagram stores allow the buyer to customize what they want, such as initials, charms or colors. Many of these business owners have kept their accounts alive throughout quarantine, and take genuine pleasure in creating things for others.

“Yes, it was worth starting it, and I really enjoy it!” Kates said. 

A few Instagram accounts that gained recognition for their jewelry are: @emmjewels, @charmed_bym and @lex.beadss.

Pancake Cereal:

A popular “DIY” trend that popped up included pancake cereal. This idea stemmed from the social media platform Tik Tok, that involved users making pancake batter and cooking mini pancakes, then adding them into a bowl with the milk of their choice. This trend quickly gained traction and spread to many people around the world for the pleasant and cute aesthetic. It later transformed into making other foods into mini cereal, such as cookies, brownies or even cinnamon rolls. 

Thrifting:

Thrift stores take clothes that have been donated and sell them at a much lower price, with items ranging from vintage clothes to new or designer clothing. Thrifting became a big trend throughout quarantine, as it presented an opportunity to change things up a bit. People go into the store and come out with a new wardrobe, all while spending much less money than at an Urban Outfitters.

“Going to a thrift store can open up your style in so many ways and also save you a bunch of money,” Palmetto senior Marcela Canal said.

A few thrift shops around Miami are Dragonfly Thrift Boutique, Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique, and Bargain Box Thrift Shop.