By IYLA ROBINSON & EMELIA STEVENSON

In a time when trends shift overnight, and new products appear every day, people start buying things they don’t really need. According to Earth.org, we consume 400% more than we did 20 years ago. To put this into context, this means we’re buying five shirts, when we used to buy one, and 10 earrings, when we used to buy two.

Overconsumption occurs when an everyday purchase grows beyond needs, often without individuals realizing how quickly it can add up. Social media plays a major role in this recent spike in overconsumption by constantly showing a new product, with trends becoming more widespread much faster. As these pressures continue, overconsumption can and will become bigger and more impactful.

At first glance, overconsumption may seem like an insignificant or individual issue rather than a systemic crisis. Overconsumption contributes to a variety of major issues, including environmental, economic, social, and psychological. With the rise in platform shops, “Get Ready With Me” vlogs, and the promotion of microtrends, the average American waste creation has skyrocketed. Modern influencer marketing has rapidly evolved since the culture began around 2015. We went from casual recommendations and lifestyle hacks to a full market that has began to merge personal identity with consumption. Social media has redefined consumption; it is no longer only the purchasing of goods; it’s how we perceive worth, identity, and sense of community through our purchases. It pressures audiences to buy items for validation or self-image instead of for beneficial purposes.

Not only does overconsumption have an impact on people, but it can also negatively impact our environment. When companies and social media promote certain brands, it can lead to mass purchasing. Oftentimes when people over-purchase new products, they clear out previously owned items, and many of those end up in landfills.

According to The Institute of Sustainability Studies, 92 million tons of clothes-related waste accumulates each year, and to make those clothes we throw away, we produce half a million tons of microplastics annually. This can impact wildlife, disrupt ecosystems, and destroy our atmosphere through chemicals.

All of these impacts on society and the environment are all somehow tied to overconsumption. Though occasionally indulging in personal desires can be enjoyable, and understandable, when it gets to the extremes, it’s important to understand the repercussions.

Social media, especially, can have a huge impact on our perception of “wants and needs.” Not to say that all purchases that aren’t direct needs are unnecessary or “bad,” but self-regulating and understanding how unrealistic it is to have everything we want or see is a good start. So maybe next time you see someone showing off their “haul,” it’s important to remember the outcomes, and how that might affect our future.