IELTS Common Essay Topic- Consumerism and Materialism
Consumerism is consuming more and more product or things rather than repairing and reusing. In other words, it can be defined as USE AND THROW, even if the product is in good condition.
In simple words, consumerism is buying more and more things, even if they are not needed. It can be because of show offs, to prove yourself superior to others, etc. For example, people are buying new version of iPhones, though their previous iPhones are in good condition.
Materialism is finding happiness in materialistic things, rather than spending time with family.
In simple words, people find happiness in materialistic things like branded clothes, foot wears, accessories, electronic gadgets etc. People get satisfaction and inner happiness in these things. This directly promotes consumerism. When people get happiness in materialistic things, they get away from their families and other relations. For example, people are too consumed in finding happiness in branded clothes and not really bothering about their families.
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How it all did started?
Companies work for profit, to increase their profit, companies promote consumerism and materialism.
They manipulate the consumers by providing them single time use products. Companies make product superior by exaggerating its feature and increase sales.
Moreover, nowadays people are buying more and more things due to peer pressure. They are becoming the part of rat race. The reasons can be, being trendier, fashionable, or to show off, maintaining the so called society status etc.
Furthermore, companies target the famous celebrities and give them their new products as gifts. So that can be their free advertisers. People how follow those celebrities on social medium get influenced and buy those products. This again promotes consumerism.
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Is it good?
Yes, it is good for the companies and factories but not for the individuals. Consumerism and Materialism can easily shift individual’s focus from life to products.
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Why it is not good for individuals?
- a) Individuals are not able to define their needs.
- b) Individuals get confused as there are numerous products in the market.
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Positives of Consumerism:
- Consumerism creates employment
- It helps to reduce poverty
- It encourages innovation and creativity in business
- We live in a global economy
- We have a better quality of life
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Negatives of Consumerism:
- Consumerist societies create more waste
- They use more natural resources
- They cause damage to the environment
- Consumerism creates a throw-away culture
- Advertisers tell us who we are and what we want
- Wealth does not lead to happiness
- Materialism causes greed and crime
- We should return to traditional values like sharing
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Solution – Spiritualism
Individuals feel trapped in consumerism and materialism the only solution to overcome this situation is spiritualism.
Spiritualism: – It is all about finding happiness within the mind and soul. It celebrates the inner happiness rather than searching happiness outside. A person can find happiness by spending more and more time with friends and family. By this a person can understand the value of relations and can get control on consumerism and materialism. He can focus on life rather than on products.
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Role of Digitalization- New kind of Consumerism
Nowadays, people spent more time on the virtual world. On Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat etc. Individuals see other people with their new cars, clothes, watches and many more things. And try to copy them. They are living a virtual life. This indeed promotes consumerism and materialism. Individuals think that there is no life out social media and without materialistic things. Due to this, people get away more their friends and family too.
Moreover, as many people are spending more time on internet. There are many people on the internet who are trapping other individuals with help of fake links and applications. They steal the valuable personal information from individual’s phone. And can misuse it and even blackmail individuals. This promotes Money extortion.
To Sum Up: New consumerism through online social apps like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat has increased more confusion and it has amplified the choices. It has also increased the online fraud as well as debt trap.
Sample Topics:
- Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
- In their advertising, business nowadays usually emphasize that their products are new in some way. Why is this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?
IELTS Common Essay Topic- Consumerism and Materialism
PHYSICAL HEALTH AND ISSUES RELATED TO IT