By- Jawahar Mishra
Chief Editor
News Wave
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Today’s society has become enslaved by consumer culture. People are buying things not for necessity, but for show. From mobile phones to clothing, every item has become a symbol of identity and prestige. Fearing “what will people say,” people are sinking deeper into debt. Real needs are being left behind, and artificial desires are taking over. This web of consumerism is slowly draining the human soul.
Our society today is rapidly progressing, but has lost its direction. Earlier, people bought things for necessities, but now things are buying people. Now the market doesn’t just sell goods, it sells our identity. It tries to convince us of who we are, what our worth is, and what our true value is. Today, there is a strange competition everywhere—for appearances, brands, and false status. People are no longer living life, they are displaying it. Behind every photo, every post, every clothing, and every mobile phone lies a single question: “What will people say?”
Consumerism has seeped into the veins of our society like poison. Once, people used things, but now things are using people. Brands no longer serve our needs, but rather our insecurities. They’ve convinced us that we’re incomplete unless we have an expensive phone, a big house, and a life worth flaunting on Instagram.
It was once said that “man is the master of things,” but now things have become the masters of man’s mind and mentality. Whether it’s an Apple mobile or an expensive car, their purpose is no longer convenience, but prestige. People no longer remove their veils for a good photo, but for a good photo. Respect is no longer reflected in character, but in the camera’s frame.
Social media has become the biggest weapon of this consumer culture. People used to talk, now they post. Once, happiness was expressed, now it’s edited into reels. Once, festivals were celebrated, now they’re shown off.
Every like has become a measure of self-confidence, and every comment a proof of self-worth. We’ve started living less by ourselves and more by the gaze of others. Our clothes are branded, but our thinking is borrowed; our faces shine, but our hearts are weary.
There was a time when village women, even while veiled, were an example of dignity and respect. Today, that tradition has been lost in the glare of Instagram. Now, veiling is no longer a sign of shame or embarrassment, but rather a part of a photoshoot. People say, “We’re modern.” But this isn’t modernity, it’s mental slavery—where pretense trumps self-respect.
Imagine, when someone spends a large portion of their monthly income on EMIs just so people can boast of having an iPhone—they are no longer consumers, but victims of consumption.
The phone does the same thing—talking, messaging, maintaining contact—but our minds have turned it into a symbol of social status.
The market doesn’t tell us what we need, but rather dictates what we should want. Advertisements have become so psychological that they first create a sense of lack within us, then sell a solution to that lack.
It’s a mental trade—first create dissatisfaction, then sell satisfaction. Mobile companies say, “Our phone is your identity.” Gradually, this thinking has penetrated our very souls. Our identity, self-confidence, and self-esteem have all become brand value.
When values become commodities, relationships also become transactions. Today, people give branded items, not gifts.
Marriages are no longer rituals, but social displays.
Festivals are no longer emotions, but photo sessions.
All of this together is making our sensibilities hollow and artificial.
Earlier, parents used to teach their children, “A person is recognized not by his clothes, but by his actions.” Now, children say, “Mom, I want the same brand that my friend has.” This is the moment when values lose and the market wins. Many people say, “We’re buying on EMI, so what difference does it make?” But the difference is that now you no longer own the item, but that item has become the owner of your pocket and peace of mind. EMIs are not just installments, they are an invisible chain that binds self-satisfaction.
Expensive things bring momentary happiness, but gradually become a burden.
Middle-class society today is most engrossed in this pursuit of false prestige. They have forgotten their true needs and live in a world of appearances. They are preoccupied with “how they look,” forgetting “who they are.” The culture of ostentation has emptied not only their pockets but also their morals.
Now people are willing to do anything to appear good in the eyes of others. Some are selling their privacy, others are faking relationships, and others are abandoning their modesty for cheap popularity. Where once the veil was a symbol of respect, today that veil has become a decoration for a photoshoot.
Revealing the truth is now considered outdated. What is visible sells—this is the slogan of today’s world. But what sells does not last forever. The glitter of appearances is short-lived, but the light of truth is permanent. The biggest brand in the world is your self-respect. No market, no sale, no offer can buy it. Fulfill your needs, but wisely limit your desires. Your phone should be for work, not for identity. Social media should be a medium of expression, not a measure of self-worth.
Dignity doesn’t mean restriction, but rather your true identity.
In the noise of ostentation, the voice of simplicity is the most powerful. If we want to change society, we must first change our thinking and purchasing mindset.
This time asks us—are we our own masters or slaves to the market? Can we break free from the race for show and find true self-satisfaction? The question is simple, but the answer is difficult. Because this battle isn’t about money, it’s about mindset. It will determine whether we can remain human while living amidst technology and glamour.
