Matt Irvin C.

Cristobal
BSIT – 1B

Consumerism, the primary tool of social manipulation, is viewed as a product of globalization

and represents a set of attitudes and values that place a high value on material possessions.
The earlier value system, through which we deduced what people actually require in life, is
gradually being supplanted by marketing that lets consumers decide what is in style. We are no
longer able to distinguish between people who live according to their values and those who
follow the "rules" and standards set out by the media. Without a strong personal value system, it
is unclear how our needs can be both genuine and free from consumerism. Simply put, today's
society has evolved into a consumer society in which no one is content and individuals try to
bring joy, a sense of strength, and the ability to live their lives as they choose by spending
money. Is this actually the case, or are marketing experts just creating a well-organized illusion?
For example, the overuse of consumer spending has distorted the priority of developing the
economy by causing us to spend our income and incur debt rather than live within our means
while saving and investing for our own personal progress. Furthermore, the mass market
shapes consumerism. Consumerism is a common belief that human demands may be infinitely
expanded. "If our needs are, in fact, infinitely expansive, consumerism is ultimately incapable of
bringing fulfillment.". As stated in the video interpretation, firms using "blaming the consumer"
for diverting attention away from the things they do will not solve the problem of consumerism
and will continue to do so in the future if appropriate actions are not taken. Being a consumer
affects not only me but the environment as well, causing the depletion of natural resources and
being one of the causes of pollution on Earth. The film demonstrated explicit knowledge and an
eye-opening message to each individual about the dangers of being a "consumer" and why it
should be avoided.

In conclusion, I’ve learned that Consumerism has both positive and negative aspects. Although
consumerism fosters economic progress and innovation, it is not without its drawbacks, which
range from environmental and moral degradation to greater debt levels and mental health
issues. Given that we live in a consumerist society, it is prudent to find a healthy balance. A
person's appreciation for the finer things in life should not be at the expense of his or her mental
health or financial security.