Student life is sold to us as a time of discovery and independence. But it’s also a time when we are deeply influenced— often unknowingly.
Things and people around us constantly nudge, extend, shape and potentially hijack our opinions, habits, clothes, beliefs and even sense of self. Some of these influences are overt, others invisible. Some are beautiful and some are insidious.
Where are we getting our information? For Gen Z, TikTok and Instagram are increasingly becoming primary news sources or outlets for current events.
Content is generated quickly, algorithm-driven and visually curated, mixing accurate facts with aesthetics, emotions and opinions.
However, unlike traditional media, it’s largely unregulated and oftentimes untrue. There is little to no editorial oversight, few disclaimers and no prompts to pause and reflect, resulting in an unending stream of content.
Do not get me started on how horrific comment sections can be.
I believe what is being lost is the consideration of form — how we consume news affects how it impacts us. A 30-second video with sad music and flashing headlines might evoke emotions, but it does not always lead to understanding.
Influencers — the name alone says it all. Not educators or entertainers — influencers. People are paid to shape our tastes, routines and consumption.
So the question then becomes: are we being influenced critically?
In our digital age, saturated with clickbait, misinformation and hot takes, questioning and contextualising what we read is essential. It is not enough to consume, we have to engage and talk with one another about the credibility and reliability of what we see.
Influence does not, by any means, stop at the screen. It is all around us — lecture theatres, tutorials, group study rooms.
University isn’t just about getting a degree: it’s about unlearning, re-learning and sharpening the tools we use to think. The content of our papers matters.
The frameworks, authors and ideas we are exposed to shape the views and opinions we will carry into the world.
I am taking two gender-focused papers this semester: Governing Bodies and Gender and the Law. These have further extended how I interpret politics, institutions, power and everyday interactions.
This has influenced me to pay attention to what is beneath the surface — who is involved, excluded, harmed and who gets to write the rules. I will continuously carry the influence of these two papers, among others, with me.
Influence is not always constructive; it can become dangerous when uncritical. The rise of red-pill content, online misogyny and hyper-masculine influences is no longer fringe.
These voices speak to young people searching for meaning, structure, control or a confident voice to follow. These dangerous patterns do not just exist online — they can be instilled and perpetuated in real-life social environments.
Alcohol fuels over-performance of masculinity, confidence and sexuality. In these spaces, toxic behaviour can be laughed off, enabled or ignored.
Not all influence is harmful; some can be transformative and supportive.
I think of some of the role models in my life, positive influences on campus, my lecturers who approach their work with passion and rigour. Their guidance offers more than academic insight — it exemplifies what thoughtful adulthood can look like.
Influence does not just happen top-down. It comes from quiet exchanges, conversations in flat kitchens, late-night debates, the friend who challenges your assumptions, comparing notes from class and noting the different lenses you listened through.
Then there are the more enduring influences: the people who have helped to shape your values, morals and skillset long before university was a consideration.
These include parents, grandparents, high school teachers, mentors, friends and coaches. Moving away from those role models is one of the most complex parts of growing up.
For most non-local students, leaving home to attend university probably sees a level of sadness in farewelling these figures in one’s life. Sometimes, a role model and influence leaves permanently, through illness or death.
There is a particular ache that comes from having been guided by someone who is no longer around. Their presence lingers in our minds and hearts.
Who we are is determined by what we permit to influence us. We are made up of the people, books, songs, places and patterns that have touched us.
The challenge of student life isn’t to eliminate influence, but to choose it wisely, and learn what to let go of and what to hold on to.
Kind regards,
Grace
• Dunedin resident Grace Togneri is a fourth-year law student.
