As a high schooler, I’ve watched classmates and even myself get swept up in the digital world of influencers. Our feeds are flooded with content that tells us what we should and shouldn’t buy. But here’s the thing: the constant push to overconsumption is not only tiring and annoying, it’s also harmful.
A recent study published in the National Library of Medicine states, “Social media influencers are a popular strategy to influence younger demographics, including Generation Z and millennials… This is a multibillion-dollar industry.” We’re being sold a lifestyle that’s built on consuming thousands of different products. It’s completely unsustainable and deeply damaging to our health and the planet.
Take a “Haul” video, for example. It glorifies fast fashion, excessive packaging, and the idea that having more of something is better. Influencers rarely consider the consequences of their overconsumption, which includes: overflowing landfills, exploited labor from companies like SHEIN, and a large demographic of people who are addicted to buying polluting goods. While we’re busy trying to keep up with trends, we’re gradually losing sight of what truly matters: the well-being of our planet.
I’m not saying we should all refrain from buying things online, but we do need to be more mindful of our consumption habits. Ask yourself: do you really need that product, or do you just want it because a trending influencer said you should and because you’re stuck in a cycle of excess? We’re shaping the future with every choice we make. Let’s choose mindfulness over excess and build a sustainable culture that lasts not just for a season, but for a lifetime.
