Popular hobbies and interests change over time and are more a reflection of trends and fashions than an indication of what individuals really want to do in their spare time. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

It is generally believed that hobbies are based on ongoing trends; therefore, similar to fashions, they fluctuate wildly among society. From my point of view, this statement is especially true in the modern era, and it can be explained by the nature of human beings. Since people become bored easily in their ordinary life, it is the norm for them to look for anything new. With the advent of social media that enables the circulation of trends, this task is no longer an issue as users can simply go online and search for their desired topics. As a result, upon coming across a particular movement, they will attempt to replicate it for multiple purposes like gaining popularity or having fun, which spurs interests. For instance, TikTok is a platform that allows users to post their one-minute clips about any activity, and it has quickly become a primary source for avid viewers to take up new hobbies. In other words, due to the prevalence of social interaction, pastimes are always at people’s disposal. However, being connected to the public’s interest, habit is never static and can potentially put individuals at a loss. Owing to the ever-changing feature of the world, tendencies that are formed by a particular person or organization alter in correspondence to the community’s demand, resulting in the constant replacement of relaxing activities. As such, people cannot fixate on a leisure activity, which may lead to a state of not knowing what to do, a foundation for mental diseases. Research has shown that trend followers are more likely to face depression than those who have a permanent hobby. To summarize, in an unpredictable world, our actions are always influenced by our surroundings, most notably pastimes. To avoid mental complications, people are advised to stick to an interest coming from their needs.