mossyfawnron

I am on my path to de-influencing. What is this? Well, de-influencing is when someone discourages the buying of new products, or the opposite of Internet infuencing. I am a huge consumer. I want want want. I’m trying not to do this too much anymore… but it’s difficult.

It’s easy to be trapped into being a consumer, after all there’s so many people online pushing the latest new thing in their subset. For me this is nail polish and home goods. A new bean bag? A new color of nail polish? A new decorative pillow case? I want it all. I’ve realized I really have to start de-influencing myself .

This starts with recognizing the problem. I feel like I’ll never be satisfied no matter how many new things I get, and that’s scary. I don’t want my life to revolve around getting the latest and greatest product.

The second step is to research how to change it, and that’s where I’m at. Currently I’m watching YouTubers like Hannah Alonzo, Mina Le, and others, who are exposing the industry of influencers pushing unnecessary consumption.

Hannah Alonzo in specific has a great video series called “Influencer Insanity” which goes through different ways these people line their pockets by baiting you to buy things. The first episode in the series covers “the unhinged consumerism of restock influencers”. A restock influencer is someone who makes videos restocking their fridges, cabinets, drawers, purses, etc with items that are intentionally interesting and “satisfying” to the viewer. These restock videos feature pointless products like organizational holders-of-things to put inside of other holders-of-things, and little gimmick gadgets like a blotting paper dispenser that fits in your pocket.

We’ve placed so much value on material goods and an emphasis on consumerism that it’s getting out of hand. I’ve fallen victim to it, I’m sure you or someone you know has too. “You can only [improve yourself] to a certain degree living in this society,” says my friend Asha. The way our society holds itself up is materialistic, and consumer-focused.

I will make a blog post going over my progress of mindful media consumption in a couple months to track my progress. But for now, I’m still in the first steps stages. Follow along with me!