Tired of the rising cost of living in the United States and nonstop ads, some young adults on TikTok appear to be resisting through a new trend that promotes consuming less and repurposing.
"When every moment of your life feels like you're being sold something and the price of said item keeps going up, people will burn out on spending money," Kara Perez, an influencer and financial educator, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Social media has long had room only for picture-perfect homes, lavish closets and abundant beauty products. But a new trend is sweeping the other way – urging repurposing, more frugal lifestyles and prioritizing quality over quantity.
Known as "underconsumption core," it spotlights living sustainably and using what you have, a reversal of the excess and wealth that dominates ad-heavy Instagram and TikTok.
"When you get 300 videos on TikTok about people with 30 Stanley cups, you want to have as many as you can afford. People want to fit in," said Perez, who repurposes jars as cups.
A video with over 100,000 views from TikTok user loveofearthco critiqued the tendency toward overconsumption often amplified and encouraged on social media: "I spent money I didn't have on things I didn't need."
Another account, nevadahuvenaars, shared what "normal" consumption looks like: used furniture, a modest closet, decor upcycled from glass bottles, meal prep and a downsized skincare collection.
Despite financial hardships felt particularly by Gen Z and millennials, the U.S. economy is thriving, with record corporate profits and high prices on shelves.
Culture and consumer marketing analyst Tariro Makoni told AFP that, in a way, "that feels almost 'gaslighting' to consumers" amid a period of economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
She argued that Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) plans commonly adopted by many young adults' budgets exacerbate consumption and represent a distortion in access to wealth.
But years of inflation have forced many to the conclusion that they cannot keep up with the spending habits of those on their social media feeds.
A Google Trends analysis shows U.S. searches for "underconsumption" hit a high point this summer, surfacing alongside queries about "overproduction" and the "Great Depression."
Many young adults have developed a "compulsive behavior of spending down to their last pound on a fashion item," said U.K.-based influencer Andrea Cheong, who recently shared an "underconsumption core" style video of her mending old clothes.
It is an addiction tied to pressure "to articulate who we are through possessions," Cheong noted.
In contrast, the "underconsumption core" breaks from traditional core trends promoted by influencers, who often sell an ever-changing purchasing blueprint embodying the latest trend and aesthetic, according to Cheong. She and Makoni agreed that the shift also reflects increased calls for authenticity from content creators.
Now, "conserving is cool," said Makoni – "we saw very similar patterns after 2008" during the financial crisis.
Over half of Gen Z adults – aged 18 to 27 – polled in a 2024 survey by Bank of America stated the high cost of living as a top barrier to their financial success, adding that many do not make enough money to live the life they want.
"The social media trend of 'underconsumption' is another way for Gen Z to make the most of their money and be environmentally friendly at the same time," said Ashley Ross, head of consumer client experience and governance at Bank of America.
While younger generations worry about making sustainable choices, a lack of financial autonomy drives their decisions.
"Let's be honest; no one will change their gross domestic product (GDP) for sustainability. We don't live in that world ... The motivation for people to do these things has always been to save money," said Cheong.
But she told AFP that "underconsumption" trends ultimately provide the most accessible approach to sustainability for those who seek it. The message is simple: "Buy less, buy better."
Low-consumption brick-and-mortar initiatives cast a wider net of profiles and generations.
Anjali Zielinski, 42, attended a "Mending 101" workshop in Georgetown, D.C., to acquire new skills. She brought her daughter, Mina, 7, along with her.
In addition to providing an outlet for her daughter's creativity, she hopes the craft will teach her the "value of our possessions and the work that goes into them."
