By Lucas de Paula
Editor-in-Chief
First the Yeti, then the Hydro Flask. Presently, Stanley cups, the internet’s new favorite reusable water bottle, are taking the world by storm. Yet many try collecting every color to keep up with online hype. Not only is this contrary to their reusable nature, but it highlights the impact of how microtrends can harm the environment and proves that consumers buy items to keep up with the trends, regardless of actual need.
The main driver of this force is social media. It entertains, advertises and tempts consumers to purchase trendy products. Only lasting barely a few weeks, the viral product of the week gets replaced by a new product shortly after. The ever-shifting trends create an unsettling desire to fit in or get left behind. For example: clothes. To appease the newest fashion modes, you buy a heap of cute clothes. When those very trends inevitably die in a few months, you go shopping again to blend in. However wasteful, it’s a reality for many.
The most impressionable of these trend-chasers is the newest generation, Generation Alpha. Notably, a subsection of these kids dubbed “Sephora kids,” are preteens who splurge hundreds on skincare products to appear more adult. The reality is that kids no longer want to play with toys, they watch TikTok and unknowingly internalize peer pressure and unrealistic expectations.
But it’s not just kids, it’s our entire society. With the increase in microtrends also comes the increase of material waste, and desensitization of what really matters in life. You don’t need a Stanley cup in every color, you can stick to one reusable water bottle. You don’t need to buy countless redundant skincare products, you can stick to the basics and focus on physical health. The ideology that materialism can buy happiness or status is backward; the only thing you’re truly spending is your attention on mindless, temporary voids.
As much as I preach about materialism, I have an intense interest in fashion and shop bimonthly. Instead of using consumerism to fill a void, I use it to refine and celebrate my self-expression. By being conscious, only buying what I need and thrifting second-hand, I avoid falling into the trenches of want. Be conscious of your impact on the planet, and try donating goods you would otherwise trash. Your time on this planet is limited, but the future of all the upcoming generations depends on how you treat the planet and its resources.