Peer pressure can be positive or negative. It depends on several factors. First of all, are you doing the right thing, the wrong thing or something neutral as a result of the peer pressure? Also, how big a factor is it in your life? Do other people’s opinions totally take over your mind and feelings such that you can’t think for yourself at all? Or is it just that you realize that it makes sense not to be “poresh from the tzibbur” and to do things like your peers do to some extent? Are you doing things that you really don’t want to be doing and you feel repressed or resentful as a result? Or are you just going along with the crowd when it comes to things that don’t really matter?
People tend to think of peer pressure as something negative. But it doesn’t have to be. I think peer pressure is what keeps us as Frum and as good as we are. We are all incredibly influenced by the fear of what other people think. I think that is the biggest motivating factor for most people – much more than Yiras Shamayim. Even when people think they are doing things because of Yiras Shamayim, I think it usually has more to do with wanting to maintain other peoples’ opinions. Proof: People who would never dream of turning on a light on Shabbos will speak Loshon Hara or wear short skirts, etc because those things are more accepted societally. There was a generation when most Frum women didn’t cover their hair. Today, most Frum women wouldn’t dream of not covering their hair, yet, many of those women wear short skirts.