The bandwagon appeal definition is that it is a type of argument in a dispute, the essence of which is that if everyone does something, then someone should also do it. The counterargument to this is that bandwagon appeal fallacy is the mass followers are not a criterion for the correctness of one or another of the things discussed. This reason is especially often used in the modern age of mass media.
Explanation:
The roots of this phraseological unit grow from the use of bandwagons with musicians and actors in the past for political agitation of various individuals. People followed these carriages and then, inspired by the performance, voted for the advertised politicians. Later, this practice became commonplace, and the phrase became a pun merging into speech. Nowadays, this argument also serves to promote various products and ideas, in particular from the field of fashion.
Psychologists and sociologists explain the appeal to the bandwagon as most people consciously agree under the pressure of public opinion. The subconscious fear of being misunderstood and expelled by society plays a significant role in human psychology. Also, an essential factor of acceptance is that people learn information from others, and there can be seen the presence of a certain degree of misinformation about a widespread phenomenon. The bandwagon appeal serves as an excellent explanation for the various political, economic, and social outbursts. However, it is worth remembering that this argument is erroneous because, throughout history, humankind has had a considerable number of misconceptions about the world. For example, concepts such as flat Earth and the rotation of the sun around the planet were considered absolute truths. This phenomenon is spontaneous, and after a particular time, the opinion of the crowd regarding a specific topic can change in the opposite direction.