De-influencing + an update on my low buy year
Conscious consumerism ftw.
Hello everyone,
If you missed my update, this newsletter looks a little different because I switched from TinyLetter to Substack. Nothing else is changing, at least for now.
This week I’m heartened by the Youth and taking stock of my financial goals one month into the new year.
In this week's issue:
1. Welcome to the era of de-influencing
2. One cool thing
3. Update on my low buy year
4. Links
Welcome to the de-influencing era
Look, I spend too much time on TikTok and I know there are bigger issues in the world. But over the past few months I’ve noticed that I am scrolling past more and more videos because every single one of them is trying to sell me something. Normal people are fluent in brand lingo; you can’t open a comment section without seeing that 20 people asked where the creator bought something they saw in the video. It’s become like QVC on steroids.
While I’m as easily influence-able as the next person, this is extremely grating. And I’m not the only person who has started to feel this way. Over the past few weeks, my For You Page has been flooded with takes on “de-influencing.”
De-influencing, according to Emma Austin, a 24-year-old social media manager and content creator I spoke to for a story, is “a movement to be more cautious with consumer habits and to be cautious about buying a product when it is over-promoted, over-talked about, or is being promoted in a way that is too good to be true.”
It is currently taking two forms: The first is creators telling people not to buy specific products that are often hyped on the app (like the Stanley cup). The second is general musings materialism and consumerism.
Emma is hopeful that as it takes off and evolves, the conversation will help encourage more people to be conscious consumers, and slow down their general consumption habits.
Right now, though, she acknowledges it’s essentially just another way to talk about products; it still centers consumerism even as it attempts to critique it. It ties in with dupe culture: people want what’s on trend, but they don’t want to pay for it. A dupe—or a less expensive product that is similar to what you really want to buy—fills the gap. Emma says her videos about specific products perform noticeably better on the app than her videos about consumerism generally. That’s how the algorithm works.
The conversation isn’t necessarily new. There’s no shortage of content out there about how to not buy stuff. Still, when it seems like everything out there is just an ad for something else, it’s nice to engage in a conversation on how to change that.
Anyway, here’s a link to the full story I wrote for Fortune. I’m intrigued to hear what people have to say about it!
One cool thing
By now, most of us know that multi-tasking, or switching tasks often, is really bad for concentration/productivity/our brains generally. But we could always use the reminder, right?
I appreciate this interview with Cal Newport in the New York Times that basically reiterates how more and more digital tools aren’t actually helping us work better or get more done—they’re often simply additional time sucks. I’ve noticed over the past year or so I’ve really trimmed the number of apps/platforms/management systems I’m willing to use. I have a system that more or less works for me—a combination of tech and physical tools—and learning how to use and incorporating yet another “productivity” tool is not on my to-do list.
What’s occasionally better than a thoughtful article is the comment section (assuming your audience is reading and engaging with your writing in good faith—something that, unfortunately, isn’t exactly common!). All that to say, I also enjoyed reading through some of the comments on this story, like this one:
We interact with technology so much that we act is if humans behave as machines. Many tasks can be performed more efficiently as they get more complex, but that translates less reliably to humans. I have seen numerous systems set up that don’t account for humans forgetting things or having too much to do. A less efficient, more reliable system is often better in the long run.
We have a western bias towards action. “Passive” is a negative word. Even listening must now be “active.” Sometimes non-action is the best choice.
Lots of food for thought here.
Low buy year update
A few weeks ago, I wrote about my ongoing quest to reduce my spending and be a more conscious consumer (a theme of this newsletter). A month in, I feel really good about the progress I’m making!
I pretty much stuck to my self-imposed low buy rules, and didn’t purchase any new clothing, shoes, accessories, skincare, makeup, etc. I read six books this month, two of which I already owned, two of which I borrowed from friends, and one that I found on the sidewalk (#NYC). I did end up buying one book from Barnes & Noble for $18 (The Friend by Sigrid Nunez, highly recommend). I know I need to go to the library more!
I participated in Dry January, so my alcohol spending was $0 and I also tried/somewhat succeeded in cooking at home more. My partner and I have largely cut meat out from our diets, at least at home, so I’m sure that helped my bottom line as well. I bought ~three coffees out this month, which is pretty good.
There were, of course, a few non-essentials purchased: two vinyl records (both on a list of pre-approved artists), a planner, a new notebook, a couple of zines for my boyfriend, an artbook, and a ticket to a Broadway show (it’s Broadway Week, so it was discounted), among others.
I also paid for a membership to the Investigative Reporters & Editors organization, and attended one of their journalism workshops which cost $170 altogether. Attending journalism workshops and networking events is on my goals list for the year, so I feel fine about this. IRE has such a wealth of information, resources, etc., for journalists that it feels well worth the money.
The biggest surprise spend was $115 for the Brooklyn Half Marathon—I applied not thinking I would get selected and, well, I did! So that’s exciting.
One of the best things I did this month was clue my friends into what I was doing. I went for walks, met at places that didn’t require you to spend money (Essex Market is a surprisingly good place to hang for free if you’re in NYC—you could spend a lot of money there, but you can also sit around without spending a dime), and checked out free art galleries. One friend cooked me dinner which was extremely nice!
Overall, I feel really good about my spending this month. In February, I have a trip to Florida with my mom and sister planned, so I know that my Uber/cab bills will be higher than normal. Aside from that, I’m hoping to keep a low profile.
How’s your low buy year looking?
Links
I wrote about some of what’s going on in layoff land:
Here’s some other stuff that caught my attention this week:
If you have to work for the money, that’s not passive income.
Curbed does an excellent job of covering things in every day life you’ve likely noticed but didn’t realize were…you know…things. (This is a compliment.)
Some advice on balancing financial priorities in your 20s (and honestly beyond) and finding time for yourself when you have children and a full-time job.
More TikTok culture: The layoff vlog. “People have little trust in the US’s social safety net. Instead, they place their hopes in the TikTok algorithm to eke out a temporary livelihood.”
That’s it for now. Have a great week,
A
P.S. If you know someone who would like this newsletter, please forward it along!
A couple of thoughts - and really things that I think that you know so I feel sheepish about mentioning them - a) the library (I have a library degree, so I feel like shouting it out all the time) - if you live or work in NYC you have great access to free stuff. b) you mentioned a Broadway show - are you familiar with the substack "not broadway" - worth checking out - I salute the low buy year!