Retrospective Lily

Relentless advertising (this sh** is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s)

Have y’all noticed a HUGE uptick in advertising over the last few years?!

YouTube, one of the largest internet hubs for small content creators, has always been free to use. So, it makes sense that they NEED to show ads to create revenue. However, said ads used to be pretty short and/or skippable after a few seconds. Nowadays, I have to sit through one whole minute of ads during every video, along with several short ads. Of course, you can now bypass the ads with a pricey monthly or annual membership.

Most streaming services, even if you pay to use them, STILL force you to watch commercials. In order to avoid them altogether, you have to buy the “Premium” service, which is usually twice the price of the regular subscription. Ugh! (The Netflix show Black Mirror has a thought-provoking, disturbing-in-the-best-way episode on this topic starring Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd. It’s called “Common People.”)

Don’t even get me started on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Every other post is a TARGETED ad pinpointing your SPECIFIC weaknesses based on your search history (creepy) and your conversations – CREEPIER!! It leads to impulse shopping and buyer’s remorse. I personally have felt disappointed in myself when reviewing my credit card statement a few days after “giving into” one of those ads, thinking, “did I REALLY need that?”

Give us your money (even if you have none)!

Should I feel guilty for unnecessary splurges or should I just blame the system?! On one hand, it’s important to take accountability and make responsible choices. On the other hand, it’s kinda like that scene from Mean Girls when Tina Fey’s character Mrs. Norbury tells a gymnasium full of girls, “Raise your hand if you have been PERSONALLY victimized by Regina George.” Every girl raises her hand (and so do the teachers – lol).

We have all been PERSONALLY victimized by pictures and videos screaming at us to buy things. (There should really be a support group for us.)

What’s ironic is that a lot of us are struggling financially. Life is expensive right now. In an era of increased pressure to spend money, we have less money to spend. Go figure!

Despite the occasional slip-up, I’m generally a frugal shopper. I’m always on the hunt for a great deal, and I’ve learned to live without certain things. Most of my clothes are secondhand, gifted, or old. I have paired down my haircare and skincare routines to affordable products. I rarely buy new plants or new pots; I propagate plants I have and look for pots at Goodwill.

Cheap thrills vs. true joy

Shopping can be a cheap thrill. Just like social media attention, winning $10 on a scratch-off lottery ticket, drinking a few too many cocktails, or getting the labubu you were hoping for in a blind box (IYKYK).

These little thrills are not “cheap” as in “inexpensive.” In this case, a cheap thrill is a boost of serotonin that feels forced, inauthentic – like being in the shadow of joy instead of experiencing the real thing. Cheap thrills are often followed by sadness, loneliness, or regret.

True joy can’t be bought, though the ads hope to convince us otherwise. Sunshine, a walk in nature, quality time with a true friend, exercise, reading a book, and creating ART (writing, painting, etc.) are a few, mostly-free things that bring me lasting happiness. These organic thrills are NOT followed by sadness. Quite the opposite. They lift my spirit so high that it takes a while for me to float to the ground.

So, in conclusion…

I stand in unity with those who are also resisting 50-100 ads per day. We can do it, guys! Stay strong and carry on! We tend to feed our vices and bad habits, but let’s instead seek out true joy. 🙂