America’s Young but Long-Standing Consumer Impact

By Mikayla Buneta

This is not the first time you’ve heard we’re in an age of overconsumption. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest thrift stores, overrun with briskly out-of-style trends, lovingly made with 100% synthetic polyester. Although supply is at an all-time high, demand starts to dwindle once the hype ends. Perhaps scattered about your apartment are six or so Sonny Angels, longing for their mother’s attention. 

Sonny Angels, Smiskis, and Labubus all reside in the same neighborhood — a line of cardboard boxes with consistent packaging, but each containing a unique, unknown character. That’s the thrill of what is called a “blind box.” Once a captivating concept born in Japan, the blind box market has evolved into a global phenomenon, now set at a value of $13.5 billion. Never knowing what you’re going to get next, the mystery reveals a primal need for pulling the perfect prize. The Atlantic Press conducted a study that shows the scientific desire for more; that there is an urge for “curiosity, nostalgia, and desire for companionship.”

Impulse buying, perhaps like FOMO (fear of missing out), is a common condition among adolescents. It’s not unlikely that, with TikTok Shop and its incentive for users to gain commissions from advertising products, it becomes easier to trust and feel a sense of community within shopping habits. It is a vicious cycle of trying to get ahead of the crowd with trends and being woefully defeated. Women are primarily susceptible to this concept from a social standpoint due to the pressures of self-image, which can influence their perceptions of themselves and their value in society. It is hard to separate oneself from the role of a consumer. A recent example of this was the surge of young girls purchasing Drunk Elephant retinoids to promote anti-aging. Within any type of profitable market, being a part of the herd in owning the next big product is something anyone can be roped into. 

Before your next purchase, consider the need for the product. What can you do with the packaging after opening? Can it be recycled? This is a fair question, as even the plastic used for Sonny Angels is resistant to biodegradation. Production practices are not the sole culprit; consumer behavior also plays a significant role in the problem. Being mindful of consumption practices can open new pathways to ethical products, slow creation, and a joy for existing with inanimate objects. Even thrifting can be a tangible combat against overconsumption. A previously loved object is all the more likely to take a better part in gathering.