I think I can offer a unique persective on this topic- an insider perspective- as someone who certainly brings down the mean age here on mumsnet. I pre-emptively apologise for the length of the post to follow, but if you're the curious sort, you're welcome!
I'm 18, I study in an fairly 'progressive' school in the UK (think trans flags in classrooms and common areas, no I'm not exaggerating.) there's a large focus on this sort of inclusion, and find myself amongst the emerging TRAs of my generation. I also know quite a few trans-identifying people, so have experience to talk of them as well.
There are certainly people who do not allign with trans ideology in my generation, the tail-end of gen z, but these opinions are unpopular amongst the majority. I cannot be honest about my views except with a select few; my most trusted.
The thing about people my age is that many are completely uninterested in statistical data, facts, the different ways of thinking and interpeting the world. Unless it already affirms and verifies their pre-chosen position and political ideals, they don't care (Or perhaps, fully unmotivated in finding out).
Things that contradict the idea TWAW are brushed of as bigotry immediately, called 'facism' and 'right wing b*llocks' with no second thought required. It must be easy for their brains, no logical processes are required, 'vibes' and 'whimsy' rule over all. These people are the majority of 'progressive' left-wing youth in my life. As a left-wing teenager, I find it dissapointing. They're only TRA-alligned leftists because they've been told it's the most moral– the most kind– the most 'good' and the only valid, dimensional political position.
They're told on social medias like TikTok and Reddit that any alternative opinion is inherintely evil and stupid. For evidence, look only to how they treat conservatives and reform voters, laughing at them with the insult 'singular GCSE'. That anyone who disagrees must 'educate' themselves in their 'correct' views– for they are the epitome of education and model all correct, most accurate, opinions. I can't fully explore this here, I'd be up all night writing so much I'd probably qualify as a sociologist, but we all have access to the social media posts and comments I speak of. It's also evidenced by the co-operation of 'TERF' as a derogatry term against women, simply MENTIONING someone has gender-critical ideology is enough of an insult in their view. No arguments needed when you can have a single word 'KO' any opposition. (In their eyes, anyway)
I mention all this because I think it's relevant in why so many vehemently follow trans-ideology, why so many even consider transitioning themselves.
The reality is most of us have been on social media since early pre-teens being fed other's opinions; no chance to honestly explore any real evidence and arguments. From the onset of exploration we were told 'TWAW, TMAM, TERF bad, TA good, gender is a social construct and simultanously real and innate, people just want to pee'.
Form the opinion- then find argument. That's the order of the movement and why TRAs fail so spectacularly in honest debate. Because the arguments don't sway their way so they must resort to slogans and insults to fight-the-fight for them.
Sure, it is successful in recruitment. It's easy, quick, by adopting trans-ideology they face less resistance. They're supported and celebrated even by schools, institutions.
So that's why people side with TRAs, perhaps even become one themselves.
But there's the other side, what is the 'Trans Trend'? Why are more and more people adopting trans identity? I can also offer insider perspective on this, at times in my early teen years on the brink of puberty where I identified with the TQ+ crowd. But mine is the TM story, not the TW one.
I looked at my body and felt completely disconnected from it, like I wasn't 'girl' or 'woman' at a base level at all. Bla-bla-bla, typical story of any TIF. On TikTok, Discord, I see girls, women ACTUALLY 'becoming' boys, men. It was so convincing. I gave myself an androgynous name and identified as a 'demi-boy'. I knew I could never actually identify as a male, that felt a bit silly back then still. But I can confidently say I grew out of that by getting more comfortable with my own body. I didn't identify into that crowd for long, this was around 2020-2022 when it was in peak popularity.
A lot of my peers were 'trans' around this time as well, there's certainly an element of peer-pressure. 'So-and-so has a cool new name, look, he's got a haircut, new pronouns, that straight girl is now a gay boy' All my peers who 'transitioned' around this time eventually came off it at varying rates, coincidentally they were all female.
The same phenomena can occur at any time, especially with the internet. Trans activism has very consistant backing, publicity, and methods of popularisation. People my age (me included) spend most of their time on screens and social media so it's almost inevitable you'll fall down rabbitholes.
Young people are fed the idea of gender as the feeling, the emotion. The identity that composes their whole. That you are the sum of all your identities, nothing else. Once that becomes firmly lodged in there it's very difficult to reason out.
Why do you think some become so utterly enraged when one opposes their position? We're challenging the ideology they've built upon their entire concept of being, identity, core values and they can't possibly entertain the idea that it could be incorrect. Of course, this only applies to the more extreme TRAs and trans idealogues, a decent number lack 'brainwashing' to this extent. Young or old, the basic principles amongst the group fares pretty similar. I can elaborate further later upon request but it's late.
Simply put, I'd say willful ignorance. Acception without question. That woke=good by its very definition. Combine with natural youthful ego & inability to bring one's own views into question and you create the ultimate TRA weapon. Bonus points if they stumble across the ideology during sexual development and internalise it, or worse, in pornography in which these identies are fetishised.
Perhaps there is no way of simply putting it.