Does Gen Z Actually Have An Overconsumption Problem?

Everyone online seems to be talking about Gen Z and their so called “overconsumption problem”. From Labubu dolls to fast fashion hauls, TikTok has it all. But is this really a uniquely Gen Z issue, or just another moral panic? In this video essay, I explore the truth behind Gen Z’s consumer habits, diving into ideas like late stage capitalism, Marx’s commodity fetishism, and Baudrillard’s consumer society. Are Gen Z simply the most visible generation thanks to TikTok and YouTube, or are they being scapegoated for a wider system of endless growth, waste, and microtrend mania? We will also look at generational comparisons like boomers with sears catalogues to the rise of fast fashion and TikTok shop. Feel free to follow me @CalDoesLife on instagram and tiktok :)