It's a phenomenon driven by out-of-date media conglomerates. Outlets like NY Times and Time magazine need to show they're still on the cutting edge, they get close enough to maintain credibility with most folks, and their scope is broad enough to establish the discussion. They need something to write about, and people/places don't always fall into actual categories, so the media create them. Most people follow their lead. Why not? Glasses? They see a blur of buzzwords and that's close enough. @0.35 and following: "Hipsters are [buzzword/vague term]" "Hipsters are bikes"? OK, sounds great. I wonder if my bike is a hipster.