Yuly's Point of view on our consumer society

Consumerism is a problem that affects young people.


Young people are an important part of population and they are in a fragile moment, because society could influence them, negatively through its consumerism system. The problem is not easy to identify but it is really representative. Thus, young people have the necessity of consume unnecessary goods all the time and they are convinced that perfection is best life model. They are conditioned by outside factors as media and its powers of persuasion. However, society through its principal organizations as families and education systems is responsible to correct and avoid consumerism's repercussions in life. Likewise, young people must recognize that though all people need many material things to survive, it is more important to recognize that it is not necessary to fall into consumerism to acquire happiness.

First of all, though levels of consumerism in Colombian young people is difficult to classify, there are some indicators which could show us the real magnitude of the problem. For example, a Pamplona University Project based on a study, determined that young people consume unnecessary and hazardous products to enter a social circle. Thus, some young people spend more money that their social condition allows them to, and sometimes they do anything to fulfill their objectives. On the one hand, the study revealed that young people could spend every weekend a sum of money and the main investment is on "rumba", it includes alcoholic drinks, tobacco and a variety of drugs. On the other hand, people consume brands all the time. Nevertheless, young people are most exposed to believing that to be accepted it is necessary to wear the best clothes, have the latest mobile phone and perfect body, and that success is connected to wearing perfume and having material possessions as cars.
Second, media influences young people through advertisements; they try to persuade them constantly to buy and have unnecessary goods. Nowadays, advertising has a deep impact and influence on how people understand life and the world especially, regarding their values and behavior. This means that some young people are immersed in consumerism, because media sell the false idea that happiness depends on acquiring products. Hence, they have greater dependence on material goods; they waste their resources to obtain some things to improve their self-esteem, to be admired, envied and wished. Consequently, consumerism has mental, emotional and physical repercussions. On the one hand, most of physical and health problems which are derived from a consumer attitude are related to feeding as a result, obesity, anorexia y and bulimia have increased. On the other hand in psychological health, it could cause depression and anxiety when people have low self-esteem and when they recognize the impossibility to have everything they want.
Finally, it is good remember that young people need values at home, in schools and universities and training to form critical thought to avoid the repercussions of consumerism in their lives. They must learn the importance and advantages of saving for future plans. It is true that consumerism is not a suitable and intelligent way to achieve happiness. Thus, it is important to inform people ever since they are teenagers about marketing strategies and some of the real intentions of publicity. Likewise, it is necessary to work on self-esteem, because good real self-acceptance and confidence in themselves is essential to overcome a consumerist attitude.

Some Colombian studies determined that young people are exposed to a consumer society and they are becoming consumerists. Equally, Society and media influences young people negatively in many ways, but also it is necessary for society, through its organizations, to work hard on this problem. Thus, Society organizations must form critical mentalities to avoid losing the true value of life.

Category:

Education

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• consumerism
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