Consumerism and Its Effects

Consumerism. An eleven letter word with devastating consequences and effects. At the age of twelve, I created my first social media account. It at first, seemed harmless, and merely entertaining. However I soon came to realise the harsh reality of what influencers are doing and how it affects us.

While scrolling, I am constantly bombarded with video after video after video. “Here’s why you should buy the latest Stanley cup.” “10 reasons why you should get the new iPhone 16.” “Restock and pack my guest bathroom with me.” These are just a fraction of the type of videos that pop up on my feed. 

At first, I was hooked. Seeing the types of things people bought, the stock upon stock of which they had in their house, the prettiness and the aesthetic of things. It soon came upon me that it was all really just waste in the end.

Remember the Stanley cup frenzy? I sure do. The Stanley cup is famous for the crowd of people waiting to buy the latest colour the cup came in. Hoards of Americans would camp outside their local supermarket to snag supposedly limited edition water bottles. They would then start a collection of bottles, buying and collecting more and more.

This is a prime example of consumerism at its finest. What was intended to be a reusable water bottle, something that was durable and could last long, without needing to buy a new one became, on the contrary, the newest trend. Buying more and more cups, ignoring the intended purpose of a water bottle. 

The fear of missing out is a powerful tool in marketing. Seeing people whose taste we trust trying out something new, that item then becomes a symbol of social status, it becomes symbolic, it represents being part of a group, or a lifestyle. This is where the fear of missing out on an experience, or an item, or even a group of people who share the same interest comes into play. We get so afraid of being left out, or being left behind, that we get swept into the world of consumerism, buying more and more things that we definitely do not need. Once we buy it, it gives us a small surge of dopamine, causing us to be addicted to the little spark of happiness and buy more things to feed that addiction. This then becomes a harmful cycle, which could have very bad consequences.

Now buying things might not seem so bad, but in the long run, it can certainly do a lot of damage. Firstly, the amount of money spent to buy these things could pile up, causing financial stress. Though it might seem like small little items that do not cost that much, when added together, the total amount of money spent might amaze you.

Secondly, the amount of waste generated. After a period of time, once the hype and the trends die down, you will be left with a lot of unwanted items. The things you buy will slowly start to lose it’s novelty and the items will start to become habitual, a part of life, or even boring. There is no intended use anymore and will in the end, clutter your homes. 

Lastly, and most importantly, the social competition. The fight to always stay on the top. Does life not do that already? Fight to be the best of your job. Fight to stay at the top of the class. Fight to be the most successful. Now the added stress of competing with trends and staying on top of the newest lifestyles. 

In a nutshell, its never just the newest cup, the go-to cup, its the cup. The new favourite cup, the cup that would solve all our problems, the cup that will get us closer to our ideal lifestyle. Consumerism is a dangerous cycle. The faster you get out of it, the faster you will realise how far you spiraled down in jealousy and greed.

Joanne

Secondary 2 Purity

2025