#ConsumeristCulture

[conscious-fyp]

Although we try to find solutions, the problem of overconsumption is bigger than all of us.

Capitalism, the current economic system in the vast majority of countries in the world, is driven by consumption. The environmental, financial, psychological and social damages are a consequence of the lack of regulation in commercial processes and the adoption of a non-intervening model for the economy.

by Maycon Freitas • English III, 2023.1

Times Square, New York City - NY, United States. A commercial intersection that is a symbol of American and global capitalism, where about 300,000 people pass daily. An iconic location that expresses the American way of life.

In the not-too-distant past, it was believed that the internet, as part of the Technical-Scientific-Informational Revolution (or Third Industrial Revolution), would be the future and would greatly change the way we live our daily lives. To a large extent, optimism materialized and it managed to promote improvements in the quality of life of all those connected to the network — with it, it became easier to get in touch with friends and relatives who were physically distant, to move around the city and, mainly, to access information that spread in a way never seen before in history. And all this in just a little over 30 years (with the creation of the World Wide Web by the British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, “the father of the internet”, in 1991) — unbelievable if compared to the history of mankind and from the earth!

The aforementioned revolution was no different for shopping, with the inauguration of electronic commerce, which has never been so easy. The consumer's distance to the desired product is just a few clicks on the website. And all this without having to leave your home or worry about logistical issues. With the advent of social media from the 2010s onwards, the presence of advertisements gradually increased until the formation of a scenario of bombardment of commonly appealing or false advertisements, which try to induce the average user to buy the product anyway — consolidating, in the 2020s, the model of selling products (especially clothing) through short videos recorded vertically with several different denominations depending on the platform.

Sponsored videos incorporated into social media can promote unbridled consumption through their influencers and generate material and immaterial consequences for consumers and the environment. Advertising strategies inherent to capitalism, when used in a very appealing way, induce consumers to buy without thinking about the future consequences of this transaction — which can result in indebtedness, accumulation of little or never used goods and the possibility of developing psychological disorders involving consumption (such as Fear of Missing Out syndrome). Although there are methods of controlling consumption and more sustainable lifestyles (such as minimalism and replacing plastic with glass or other more durable materials), they are all palliative measures that do not solve the main problem: unbridled capitalism, “in natura”, without any regulation or control.

The State must promote public policies aimed at the social well-being of the population, the fight against climate change, and the promotion of sustainability. The number of advertisements seen by users should be limited and, next to each one of them, instructions should be placed so that they can analyze the product well before purchasing it. Similar to what happens with posts identified by the algorithm as “potentially false”. As well as constituting Incentives for the creation and use of platforms for the purchase of used products, especially targeting those that have been little or never used. The idea is to facilitate the connection and delivery logistics between the buyer and the seller, trying to reduce as much as possible the effort required for the buying and selling process. Finally, tax reductions should be promoted for products with a sustainable purpose (that have a long shelf life, are not disposable, and/or have material that can be recycled) or with a sustainable manufacturing process, through a visible seal on the packaging (as used for products manufactured in the Polo Industrial de Manaus).

Capitalism imposes itself on the world as the international economic system — while it is the rule, other systems like socialism are the exception. However, this does not mean that it should not be regulated and controlled, taking into account the well-being of people and the defense of the environment. It is also pertinent to point out that the US case should not be used as an example, since it is unsustainable from an environmental point of view (imagine if every country in the world had the US consumerist culture) and the lives of its population are, in general, worryingly based on dopamine doses linked to consumption.

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Panic buyers who think they are protecting themselves from coronavirus by hoarding crucial resources are tanking the economy, which will hurt millions of people when coronavirus reaches its peak. Millions of businesses are facing financial ruin due to panic, despite the fact that not putting money into the economy constructively will leave millions in poverty and make recovery from coronavirus more difficult (not to mention putting pressure on already stretched health services). 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

@shythalia​ Yes, certain media outlets have gone above and beyond in stirring up panic and hysteria among the population. But the real evil is consumerist greed. We have panic buying several times a year, notably at Christmas and on that pestilential weekend, Black Friday. People over-buying materials they do not need, and trampling on beleaguered shop assistants for the privilege thereof. 

I think it's honestly the media's fault that idiots are panic-buying.