Before seeing the announcement for this sub, I’ve never put much thought into consumerism. I found this article by searching “anti-consumerism”, so I doubt this is a new one to more informed people.

However, I’d like to start a beginner-friendly discussion, and this article made an incredibly interesting connection to the veneer of everything-is-great-for-me that plagues social media, as well as new businesses like airbnb and uber.

First off, a simple definition of consumerism from Wikipedia:

Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

And back to the article. Essentially, the millenials’ move away from materialism resulted in an ironic, unhappy trade with something more spiritual and emotional - lifestyles. Influencers make money off of selling their lifestyle, or rather its best parts, and people love to see that. In the process, they make money for social media platforms like Instagram and feel bad about their own lives.

Airbnb and uber sell experiences - high quality ones at lower prices. This is nice and all for the consumer, but airbnb hosts and uber drivers are selling their lifestyles. They sell key parts of their lives, and various factors like personality and music tastes become part of the product.

I am inclined to think that selling one’s personality isn’t that bad - it reminds me of customer service and salespeople. However, the difference is that such people focus on being professional and pleasant rather than showing their true selves, and they are a means to the product rather than the product itself.

As futurist Rolf Jensen wrote in his 1996 paper “The Dream Society”:

“Today, people still buy products mostly for their function; nonmaterialistic reasons remain secondary. But that is changing. In 25 years, what people buy will be mostly stories, legends, emotion, and lifestyle.”

What people want from drivers and especially airbnb hosts is authenticity and a good experience, which demands something far more intimate than a customer-service approach.

TLDR

Two key takeaways: lifestyles are hot on the market, and make sure that your efforts to move away from consumerism doesn’t draw you to the more spiritual/emotional sort - both are dangerous for a happy life.

Moving to a more anti-consumerism lifestyle

After skimming this article, it doesn’t resonate with me but I find this part interesting:

focused on maximizing health, time, and money rather than the acquisition of stuff.

This seems to take anti-consumerism further than my very cursory look at other articles, which seem to emphasize becoming happier only by spending money more wisely.

Right from the get-go, my interpretation of this quote is that the author nourishes his physical and mental wellbeing more than his desire to possess material things. Spending time and money wisely also benefits his wellbeing.

I became intrigued by the idea that spending time on myself can be more fulfilling than spending money on myself (excessively). Although I don’t use social media much, or care to see its lifestyles, I suspect that using any material excesses in a way that’s dissatisfying and meaningless in the long-term is also taking part in consumerism. And with the new, more spiritual/emotional sort of consumerism, I’m compelled to examine how I might be consuming stories in particular, to the detriment of myself. Perhaps I’m throwing “spiritual” around too much.

I never thought I’d write all this, much less on my phone. My eyes are killing me. I’d love to hear your thoughts!