How Instagram Fuels Overconsumption (And What We Can Do About It)

🧠 The New Addiction: Scroll, Like, Buy, Repeat

Instagram started as a platform to share moments — but somewhere along the way, it turned into a catalogue of things to want. Things to buy. Things to need.

It’s not just fashion. It’s skincare, tech, home decor, hauls, “must-haves,” and viral products you didn’t even know existed ten minutes ago — but now can’t live without.

Overconsumption isn’t just encouraged anymore. It’s glamourised.

And worse — it’s normalised.

Aaron Weiss Photography — #blindnyc (blind consumerism in NYC)

💳 The Trap of “Need” in a Culture of “Now”

Here’s how it usually goes:

• You open Instagram “just for 5 minutes.”

• You see a reel that says “Things you NEED from XYZ”

• You click.

• You swipe up.

• You add to cart.

That’s it. No time to ask:Do I actually like this?Will I wear it more than once?Does this align with my values?

And even if you resist once, you’ll see the same product styled 17 different ways by 17 different creators — making you feel like you’re missing out by not buying it.

“Social media doesn’t just sell products. It sells urgency.”

Search results on pinterest of Amazon Must- haves.

🧠 What It’s Really Selling You

Instagram is no longer just about inspiration — it’s about aspiration.

We’re constantly being shown what a “better version” of our lives should look like:

• A trendier outfit

• A newer wardrobe

• A home that looks like a showroom

• A skincare routine with 17 steps and 12 serums

It’s hard not to feel like you're falling behind.And what’s the easiest way to keep up? Click. Buy. Repeat.

And the worst part? That thrill of buying fades in a few hours.But the clutter — physical and mental — stays.

When overconsumption is rebranded as "collections" and "restocking" to make it seem normalized - zerowastestore

♻️ The Hidden Cost of All That “Aesthetic”

The algorithm rewards what looks good. But that doesn’t mean it is good.

Behind every viral haul is a landfill.Behind every “under ₹999 must-have” is an underpaid worker.Behind every shiny new outfit is another piece in your closet that won’t be worn again.

Fashion isn’t supposed to be disposable.Neither is your attention span.

And yet, we’ve been taught that if you’re not buying something new, you’re not evolving — you’re not fashionable.

But what if evolution looked different?

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that around a truckload of textile waste goes into open landfill or is incinerated every second. -Knot Waste

“Globally, there are 152 million children engaged in child labor. 60% of these children are actually working in the fashion supply chain," explains Kelly Drennan founder of @fashiontakesaction. "In Uzbekistan, children are taken out of school, hired on the cotton field and forced to pick cotton."

🌿 What If We Chose Slow Over Scroll?

What if we paused before hitting “add to cart”?What if we asked:

• Do I already own something like this?

• Can I restyle what I already have?

• What am I actually trying to express with this piece?

What if styling became more about intention, and less about impulse?

Because real style isn’t about having more. It’s about doing more with what you already have.That’s not boring. That’s brilliant.

YES! YES! YES!

🖤 A Soft Rebellion Through Style

At Shirt Got Real, we don’t believe you need a 30-piece haul to feel fresh.We design accessories that let you rework, reimagine, and repeat — without compromising on style.

Detachable collars. Statement cuffs. Quietly rebellious pieces that transform what’s already in your wardrobe. So you can express more, buy less, and dress like you mean it.

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness. Because once you see it — you can choose better.

One shirt, endless stories.That’s the kind of fashion worth following.

👉 Explore the collection