Social Media Influences Parental Christmas Expectations

The era of children circling desired toys in a catalogue, hoping Santa would deliver, has evolved. Today, social media “hauls” – where influencers showcase their purchases – serve as the contemporary wish list, with some parents reporting that this phenomenon intensifies pressure during an already demanding period. Parenting blogger Charlotte Harding described the expense of Christmas presents this year as “quite stressful.” She elaborated, “As the boys have got older, the presents have become more expensive.” Charlotte noted that game consoles and concert tickets were prominent requests on her sons’ Christmas lists, but the financial burden extends beyond gifts for Christmas Day itself. She stated, “The boys have asked for advent calendars that are about £25 plus, which to be honest would be a Christmas present in itself. But this is for the run up to Christmas.” She also mentioned hearing of young girls requesting beauty advent calendars costing hundreds of pounds. Charlotte explained that social media significantly influences children’s Christmas lists, particularly through “younger and younger” influencers who promote products. She observed, “But children don’t know the amount of money these things cost… and the parents are really starting to feel the pressure of it.” The financial strain is not limited to Christmas presents and gifts; social media trends like Elf on the Shelf and Christmas Eve Boxes, alongside attending various events, are also contributing to increased expenses during the holiday season. “The latest trend I’ve seen is a plane and you go see Santa, and apparently it’s amazing,” remarked parent blogger Stephanie Handwell. Stephanie, who operates the blog Welsh Mummy Steph, has previously experienced the demands of social trends. She cited examples such as “the Polar Express, the Santa experiences and afternoon tea with Santa.” She reflected, “I sometimes have to check myself and think when I was a child, I saw Santa once and it was still magical.” Stephanie added, “It was probably the things we did as a family that I really remember.” She acknowledged having felt the pressure of social trends in the past, stating, “I’ve decided to keep my PR calendar minimised because it creates this expectation, and I don’t like that because I feel that myself as a parent.” Caitlin Acreman, who manages the Instagram page Haul at 4, has also reduced her Christmas-themed content in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis. She affirmed, “You can still have an amazing Christmas and make loads of memories in a budget-friendly way.” While Caitlin appreciates observing others’ Christmas celebrations online, she believes that “comparison is the thief of joy.” She explained her approach: “I like to go on my stories a show there is a person there, I’m a mum of two and I’m constantly finding ways to be budget friendly and save those pennies.” She concluded, “I like to come on there because people can relate to it a little bit better.” Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, stated that Christmas can be a complex time for numerous individuals, accompanied by the additional expectation “to be happy.” She elaborated, “If you don’t have the ability to do that – such as having this massive Christmas meal with your family – then it often leaves people feeling inadequate or lonely.” She further noted that financial strains occasionally alter individuals’ views of the holiday season. Fiona Barnard, who operates the blog Life of a Crazy Mum, concurs that Christmas “can be a tough time for people with mental health and financial issues.” She emphasized, “More often than not, all children want to do at Christmas is spend time with their family and their loved ones.” Barnard continued, “Most of us work full time, some of us are single parents or only see our children at weekend.” She added, “So when it comes to Christmas it’s not about running around piling them full of presents or slaving away in the kitchen for half the day, where they don’t see us.” She advocated for a return “to basics” regarding the essence of Christmas, concluding, “It’s about family. It’s about sharing time and sharing love, as opposed to sharing pits full of money that we don’t have.”