Alienation of individuality

As the media makes it easier and easier to assess information now, it becomes a trend, or an instinct to follow the popular culture. However, as people are busy keeping up with fashion, fearing to fall back behind someone, they are losing their individuality which they  don't have time to consider and to develop. In keeping up with the trend, they are only constructing appearances that essentially look alike to others', while shutting down their inner communications.

The Ted Talk "Connected but Alone" reflects on this situation. People are obsessed with the superficial and virtual connection to "cool people" on the Internet, competing their ranking in games with people all over the world, showing off the bright parts of their lies on social media, while neglecting communications with those in real life who can better understand their troubles and themselves as individuals. The Internet creates illusion for some people that there must be someone out there who is more compassionate, more intelligent and more worth for them to talk to those who live close to them. While this can be true, it also lends excuse for not directly facing the reality.

Similarly in the Little Miss Sunshine Contest, all the other candidates except for Olive are dressing up like models with heavy make up and stiff smiles. Adults are applauding for them, who are only children. The gap between their individuality and their appearance alienates themselves from the world, as the world no longer perceives them the way they actually are.