FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Anticonsumption ideas facts posts - The Untold Story

The Anticonsumption subreddit’s one-liner bio concisely and ambiguously expressed the drawbacks of consumerism. However, experts have explicitly discussed them over the years, including how it affects a child’s well-being. 

A study from the University of Macau found that youth materialism has been linked with a dip in self-esteem, along with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and decreased motivation.

What’s worse is that it turns into a toxic, seemingly inescapable cycle. According to a study by the University of Chicago, the depleted self-esteem among children and adolescents increases their materialism tendencies. 

Researchers have found that material possessions have become a primary coping mechanism for their feelings of self-worth.

According to Lan Nguyen Chaplin, a marketing professor at the University of Chicago, one of the many roots of the problem is when parents use material things as a form of punishment or reward. 

“In the long run, there's this focus on material things, and kids grow up to place a greater emphasis on material things as a sign of success and achievement,” Chaplin told National Geographic. 

Then there is the advertising that kids are exposed to, whether on TV, on the social platforms they navigate, or on YouTube ads they see at the start of every video. 

 “Kids don't even realize what an advertisement is when they're young—they just see something, and they think it's great,” University of Missouri marketing professor Marsha Richins points out.

So, how do we stop this cycle? Chaplin urges practicing gratitude and giving, for one. But more importantly, she calls on parents to foster a loving and harmonious relationship with their children. 

“The secret here lies in spending time with your kids, communicating with them, and fostering a positive sense of self,” she said.