Miguel García, 9th Grade

Last year, the Stanley water bottles became famous all over the USA, and it was even considered the best accessory of the season, but how did all of this start? Why is everyone going crazy for these water bottles? 

Stanley Water Bottles became popular because of a woman’s viral TikTok video in November, showing how her Stanley Cup survived a car fire. In response, the Stanley Company offered to replace her cup and her car. Since that moment, Stanley cups have been seen all over TikTok and in the hands of influencers, propelling the Stanley cups to new heights. 

Many people may say it’s just a cup, but others say it’s something bigger. “It’s just a cup, but it represents something symbolic. It represents something aspirational. It represents being part of a group, an affiliation, or a lifestyle,” states Charles Lindsey, an associate professor of marketing at the University at Buffalo School of Management. It’s human nature to always want something new, that’s why we always see a different water bottle trending, a different phone, a different clothing brand, or a different experience. “From a consumer behavior standpoint, we are always incorporating variety and new things into our lives. and the fear of missing out is an especially powerful psychological tool, and we see it affect everything from financial markets to, yes, cups.”

In social media, there’s been a lot of romanticization of clean and healthy hydration, and this also affects how the Stanley cups are so popular. After all, what else is better than hydrating with a 40oz water bottle that makes you look good on social media?
The symbolic value, emphasized by Professor Charles Lindsey, goes beyond utility, representing a desired lifestyle. Social media played a crucial role, turning the 40oz water bottle into a symbol of trendy, healthy hydration. These water bottles are trending because of a TikTok video, and that’s how easy it is to make something else viral. It ends up not being just a normal, usual cup that you can compare with any other normal cup, it is the cup, a title earned because of surviving a car fire.