The problem of online consumerism

cATHERINE EIKELbARNER

Two-day shipping and 15 clothing items, all for $50? Wow, what a deal! Although the consumer is filled with joy, there are consequences to their purchase. The environment weakens as the materials to create their purchase are taken. Child labor workers shed tears as they make another item. The economy strains because it cannot keep up. The endless cycle and cost of online consumerism is not a pretty picture, and all who suffer do so only so you can get a pair of jeans to wear next week.

I cannot lie. I have been a part of this inhumane industry, but after educating myself on the effects of how my actions can hurt the world around me, I reevaluated my habits and stopped. I used to think that a shirt for only $7 was a “good deal,” and not that it was causing havoc upon roughly 265 million working children worldwide. The International Labor Organization collected this data in 2013 and is most likely still climbing. This number, however, is far beyond what should be considered within ethical guidelines.

Child laborers suffer every day, having to abide by strict rules, constraints, and enclosed working conditions that deprive their energy. While child laborers are the ones who experience the most upfront excruciating pain, other parts of the consumerism process are also hurt. Right now, the economy is especially experiencing a relentless strain on its production. Consumers are spending too fast, and there are not enough workers to operate the transportation methods that deliver the consumer’s purchases. I notice this firsthand as a retail store employee. Our shipment from store orders is exponentially increasing—resulting in smaller increments of shipping time and an abundant amount of stress on everyone.

Most of the economy’s halt is due to the pandemic, where people feel safer shopping from their bubble, closed off from the chaos surrounding them.

As reported by the World Economic Forum, 75% of consumers have tried a new shopping behavior or experience, whether it was shopping online or from different brands. Out of the same surveyed group, 73% stated they would continue to apply these behaviors to their shopping experiences after the pandemic. Some of these newly developed behaviors will help in some cases, like gearing people towards buying clothes they like and keeping quickdecision purchases to a minimum. Still, they do an immense amount of harm.

Plastic consumption, fossil fuels, exploitive labor, and a shortage of utilities are all outcomes of the evergrowing online consumerism system. This system produces a false sense of what a “reasonably-priced clothing item” is, making me believe the cons outweigh the pros. Of course, everyone cannot afford expensive, environmentally conscious items, but that is precisely my problem with consumerism.

Online consumerism caters to many people’s needs, but they often ignore its unethical and dangerous practices, and unless that can change, we need to change how we take part in this process.

Those of lower income may shop at these unethical businesses because that is all they can afford. Others may shop online or from unprincipled establishments out of convenience since making a purchase is only a click away. This system is corrupt, but by trying to be more conscious of where we shop and their policies, we can help lessen our footprints. The reduction of online consumerism is only achievable by recognizing that it is not better than shopping in person.

Change cannot occur unless we recognize what online consumerism’s faults are and how we can take action to fix them. Changing the policies is no easy task, but choosing to abandon the cycle of consumerism is, and not making that $50 purchase might spare the tears of a child laborer this time around.

REbEccA vON TERScH