You may have come across de-influencing on TikTok. It is when influencers share items they have been influenced to buy but instead of encouraging others to purchase them, they explain why you shouldn’t buy them.
De-influencing
As always there are a few variations on the trend. Some people will share items they didn’t like but will offer alternatives instead. To me this no longer becomes de-influencing, it just circles back to influencing.
What I particularly like about this trend is that it has encouraged people to think about that they buy and what they already own. Many have recognised they own a ridiculous amount of similar products, for example, face creams. I can understand how this happens. You see someone on social media with ‘perfect skin’ and think if you use the same products you will achieve the same results. As a teenager I had a friend who would buy endless amounts of products she would see in TV adverts. These ads were almost convincing her that she had problems with her appearance that just didn’t exist. She ended up wasting a lot of money and being left with a stupid amount of half used products.
It just goes to show how consumerism is ingrained in society. I was a teenager before social media existed (now I’m giving away my age) and tv and magazine ads were how people were influenced to purchase more than they need. Social media has only strengthened that as we look at influencers as almost getting a personal recommendation from a friend. Half of the problem is that obviously trends aren’t meant to stick around and we are constantly shown the next product that will supposedly transform our lives.
For many people de-influencing will be just another trend. However, if you’re keen to retain this mindset I have a few tips you may find helpful.
Think before you buy
When I am thinking about buying something I won’t often purchase it right away. Obviously if I am replacing an item I know I already need it. But if it is a trending product I will usually wait. More often that not I will forget about it and tend to feel pleased that I haven’t wasted my money.
With clothes I am a fan of the five outfit rule. This essentially means that if I can’t come up with five outfits that the new item of clothing will go with, then I can’t buy it. There is nothing worse than buying something and then having to buy two or three other things to wear it with.
I will also see if I can get old of the item pre-owned. This has worked for me more often and not and many times I have found the exact item brand new. So not only have I prevented or at least delayed something ending up in landfill, but I have bought it at a fraction of the cost.
Back in 2019 I made the resolution to only buy clothing pre-owned, no buying anything brand new. I really feel this helped to break the cycle of mindless spending and really helped me to make considered purchases. While I appreciate this is extreme, once you break the habit you will realise how few items you really need.
