From phrases like “Have you tried mouth tape before bed?” to “What about rubbing castor oil on your belly button?”, social media is flooded with constant promotion of products, habits and lifestyles. This raises the question: is the marketing genuine, or simply a cash grab?

“I spend so much time on social media and even though I love watching people test new makeup products and do clothing hauls, I always wonder what they do with all of it,” junior Lindsay Kim said. “I would see videos where there are hundreds of unused makeup products behind them while they’re opening more to test out.”

With the advancement of technology, buying and selling items has become more accessible than ever. With just a click, people can purchase clothing, electronics and more. This advantage has given companies a more efficient way to market and sell their products. On platforms like TikTok, influencers earn commissions for every product they promote through the TikTok Shop, often resulting in sales pitches driven purely by profit. From tank tops that promise to reshape your figure, to water bottles that claim to prevent wrinkles to pills that supposedly reduce bloating—these exaggerated claims flood users’ feeds. This constant stream of content is especially influential on younger audiences, shaping their perceptions and buying habits.

The human brain does not fully develop until the mid-20s, making it especially susceptible to media influence. The constant stream of new content shapes how people think and perceive the world around them. Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. Yet the cycle continues. After all, why would not someone buy it, when their favorite influencer claims it changed their life?

“It’s especially bad to be promoted to kids,” Kim said. “Children are easily influenced by social media and want to follow new trends. I feel like a big one was the Stanley Tumblers. Everybody was buying them in multiple colors, which also defeats the purpose of a reusable bottle.”

“Fads have always existed, but social media has exacerbated the problem,” senior Daniel Zekthi said. “Look at a simple thing like water bottles: social media has made Hydroflasks, Stanley cups and Owalas trendy and people buy them with little reason other than to match what other people are buying; this is simply consumerism, no doubt about it.”

With consumption slowly being pulled into our daily lives, the standards we put onto humanity also change. Beauty standards, in particular, are constantly evolving, driven by an endless stream of trends—whether it is a new life hack, workout routine or diet. This cycle never seems to end. As a result, the number of eating disorders continues to rise—alongside the profits of the companies fueling these trends.

“I really think constantly being bombarded by messaging of any kind changes the way that you think and changes the way you move through the world and a lot of what social media bombards us with are the messages that I would carry for my kids,” English chairperson Dr. Otton said. 

Consumerism on social media does benefit certain parties. For one, people stay informed about the latest trends and influential products. Some of these items are genuinely useful, like the Sponge Daddy and other innovative tools, which can help people discover practical solutions. However, whether these benefits outweigh the drawbacks mentioned earlier is ultimately up to each individual to decide. Consumption will inevitably continue to dominate society, with new trends to follow and products to consider, allowing companies to keep profiting. Whether consumption benefits people ultimately depends on individual perspective.