Opinion by KatherineDietz

“I’m not basic! I like video games! I’m nothing like those other girls!” 

I’ve heard something along those lines about a million times. Whether it be liking Marina and the Diamonds, playing “Animal Crossing” or watching brain rot on TikTok, everyone thinks that their favorite popular piece of media is actually an underrated gem. 

It seems like everyone wants to be into more obscure things than someone else. It seems like the more popular something is, the less “cool” it becomes. Seeing everyone else enjoying something you love can make it feel less special. 

It’s not just yours anymore, it belongs to everyone. Popular media carries a negative connotation — if everyone likes something, then it seems like it would be simple or low brow. It’s not special anymore. 

Even if an artist has 10 monthly listeners, there’s still nine other people who listen to them. It’s not truly unique to you. Sure, that band is unpopular, but if you only listen to them because they’re unpopular, do you really like their music? 

Popular things are usually popular for a reason. Some movies become blockbusters because they are well made, have great acting and a wonderful story. Some albums go triple platinum because the artist that made it is a master of their craft. Some books become bestsellers because they’re good stories. 

Sure, popular things can be annoying, oversaturated or tiring, but it’s often just too much of a good thing. If you heard your favorite song on loop for a week straight, you wouldn’t like it anymore either. 

You don’t have to pretend that you’re a fully unique person. It’s okay to like things that are popular. Not every artist is underground. Not every movie is an underrated gem. Not every video game is an obscure classic, and that’s okay. 

You don’t have to “discover” something to appreciate it, and you don’t have to hate something popular just because it’s popular. 

Sometimes, being “niche” is more about a performance than a true enjoyment of something. You can like what you like, without feeling like you’re “basic” or “boring.” 

Everyone is “boring” in some way, but we are interesting in a multitude of other ways, beyond what media we like or dislike. Your interests don’t define you, you do.