“I just had to share it with people who would understand.”

In light of inflation, mounting credit card debt and rising global temperatures, one social media user was frustrated when he saw a recent advertisement that encouraged excessive consumption and consumerism.

The Reddit user posted a Buzzfeed ad promoting impulse purchases on Amazon Prime. The original poster read: “Absolutely sickening ad from Buzzfeed, as usual.”

Shared in the r/Anticonsumption subreddit, the Buzzfeed ad read, “36 Quirky Things to Make Impulse Buying Before Prime Day Ends Tonight.” The caption for the ad goes on to say how much fun impulse buying is, especially when things are on sale.

With many Americans struggling with high costs of living, credit card debt, and the effects of the climate crisis, it’s no wonder the OP was annoyed by this ad.

A lot of modern marketing implies that self-care means buying things. Unfortunately, it’s an easy trap to fall into. Ads like this one from Buzzfeed are bright and colorful and tell the reader that it’s fun to buy things they don’t need.

We all want more fun in our lives, especially when it’s just a few clicks away. However, Americans are currently struggling with mounting credit card debt. For the second quarter of 2024, the total credit card balance for Americans was $1.142 trillion, according to Credit boom.

This total is the highest on record since 1999, when the New York Fed began tracking it, and stubbornly inflation contributes to this increase in debt.

The US, like everywhere else, is also suffering from rising global temperatures – a problem exacerbated by excessive consumption.

The increased demand for products requires more combustion of products dirty fuel create and ship them. As these items make their way to the landfill, they decompose, releasing even more planet-warming emissions pollution.

Do you think America has a plastic waste problem?

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Americans might turn to meditation, nature experiences and other activities to get some good self-care. Finding treasures while shopping second hand And upcycling what we already own can also both provide a similar sensation to buying something new.

Other Redditors were equally disgusted by the Buzzfeed ad. One user commented“Buzzfeed: ‘we’re polluting the planet.’ Also Buzzfeed: ‘Mindlessly buy all this junk that will eventually pollute the planet.'”

Another user wrote“Curated lists are the big trend in low-effort journalism right now.”

The OP responded: “Usually I just ignore them, but this one felt so blatant that I just had to share it with people who would understand.”

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