Opinion: You Don’t Need “Squad Goals” — You Need To Grow Up

Every time I see the term “squad goals,” I cringe. It’s a stupid, immature term and basically only exists to try and make you jealous that your friends aren’t as great as everyone else’s. Squad goals aren’t goals at all — what you need to do is grow up a bit.
  1. It’s not an accomplishment.You didn’t achieve anything special by having a group of friends or mastering the perfect Instagram angle/filter combo. Unless you’re volunteering together at a homeless shelter or doing something useful in the world, just stop.
  2. “Goal” isn’t really the right word.I have yet to see any meme or video with the hashtag #squadgoals account for any actual goal. Usually the tag is in tune with mediocre and unproductive acts like hanging out on a beach or driving around aimlessly. Set some real goals and stop wasting your time on trivial BS.
  3. It promotes cliques.I was under the impression that inclusion was a good thing, but when it comes to squad goals, it’s the exact opposite. It reminds me of those cliques in high school that thought they were better than everyone else for no actual reason. Get over yourselves.
  4. It’s pretty arrogant to assume everyone wants to be like you.As if everyone wants to be like you and your friends because you wasted hours of your time learning to do something absurd or posing the same for the perfect group selfie? No one cares.
  5. It’s painfully overused.The term “squad goals” has been used on almost every picture with more than one person as if simply being in a photo and smiling with your friends has become some kind of lifetime achievement. Leave it alone already… and maybe look up the definition of the word “goals” while you’re at it.
  6. It’s usually materialism at its best.Congratulations! You and your friends got dressed and did your hair and makeup today and actually look good. So did a million other women,but they don’t act like it’s something that should be praised.
  7. It makes people co-dependent replicas.From what I can tell, the type of people you see with squad goals hashtagged in every photo with their friends are the type of people that don’t do anything without them. They have zero independence, and that’s just depressing.
  8. It has no meaning anymore.The purpose of squad goals was always to show off that for one reason or another your group of friends was special in some way. Now it’s so bland and generic that it literally means nothing besides “I have people to hang out with.”
  9. It’s immature.If you’re a grown woman and are still using the term squad goals, you might want to reassess your life. Grown-ups don’t have squad goals because they’re too busy adulting and getting real stuff done.
Angelica Bottaro has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Trent University and an Advanced Diploma in Journalism from Centennial College. She began her career as a freelance writer in 2014, racking up bylines in The Good Men Project, MakeWell, LymeTime, YouQueen, and more. She eventually shifted her focus and began writing about mental health, nutrition, and chronic disease for VeryWell Health.

You can follow her on Facebook or check out her website at AngelicaBottaro.ca. She also posts on Instagram @a.ct._b and Twitter @angiiebee.
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