Tyranny of Consumption

The cultural and economic system that makes relentless consumption the central purpose of life and the primary measure of success. Under the tyranny of consumption, happiness is purchased, identity is branded, and rest is just an opportunity to shop. Those who cannot or will not consume sufficiently are stigmatised as failures or killjoys. The tyranny of consumption drives ecological destruction, personal debt, and a perpetual sense of lack. It transforms citizens into consumers and treats every human need as a market opportunity.

Example: “She felt guilty for not buying anything on a Sunday stroll—tyranny of consumption, where even leisure becomes a failure unless it’s accompanied by spending.”

Tyranny of Consumption by Dumu The Void April 21, 2026