You’ve seen the videos. A glossy hand opens a box with a flourish. There’s soft music, fast edits, maybe a pinky ring tapping against plastic wrap. The caption reads:
“OBSESSED. Run, don’t walk.”
What’s in the box? A new set of “aesthetic” laundry bins. A plastic spice rack with matching labels. Another acrylic drawer system promising to fix your life. This is the religion of the algorithm: salvation through products, transformation by delivery.
But we’re not buying it. Literally.
The Language of Lies
Influencer culture has turned everyday language into a hyper-consumerist code. Words like:
- “Obsessed” – repackaged addiction.
- “Must-have” – even though you’ve survived just fine without it.
- “Game-changer” – for a bamboo lid.
- “Amazon find” – as if mining the world’s most exploitative marketplace is a heroic act.
This language doesn’t just sell products. It sells problems. Every video implies your home is broken, your system is flawed, and your only hope is this week’s junk.
Clutter as Content
Most of these products are disposable. They’re made from cheap plastic, mass-produced in overseas factories, and shipped thousands of miles in carbon-heavy packaging. They’re not meant to last. They’re meant to photograph well.
This isn’t design. This is landfill choreography.
Behind the scenes, influencers are paid to promote products they’ll never use, from companies they don’t care about. They create the illusion of intimacy—”just sharing my favorite things!”—while running a content engine that depends on your feelings of lack.
The Aesthetic of Disposability
We’re told to chase “clean girl” pantries and beige closets full of Amazon dupes. To buy endless bins to hide the overconsumption we’ve already fallen for. To treat seasonal decor as disposable—because “refreshing your space” now means throwing out last season’s Target haul and buying a new one with the same fake eucalyptus.
Influencers frame it as care. As love. As making your space “calm.” But what they’re really pushing is compliance: Stay on trend. Stay insecure. Stay shopping.
A Different Way
At Object Lesson, we believe the most beautiful rooms are built on integrity. They aren’t born from overnight hauls or viral checklists. They’re shaped by patience, curiosity, history, and real connection to the things you live with.
You don’t need a new drawer insert. You need a moment of stillness. You need to know that your life isn’t a mess to be solved with beige bins.
Final Thought
The next time you feel the pull of a “must-have” item from someone who’s “obsessed,” ask yourself:
What problem is this really solving—and who profits from me believing I have it?
Let’s stop letting strangers on the internet define what matters. Let’s choose meaning over marketing, soul over sheen.
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