2025: Overconsumption Final Boss

America set a new bar for consumerism in 2025, with viral trends, new financing methods, a rebirth of blind box mechanics, and increased escapism through consumption, despite economic instability and rising debt. This year felt like a turning point, with both rapid acceleration and underlying shakiness in consumer behavior. The video aims to break down the reasons behind these trends and predict their future trajectory.

The trend of consuming consumables for small indulgences continued, akin to the 'lipstick theory' during economic downturns. Zyns, initially a fringe trend, became ubiquitous and bipartisan, signifying a cultural backslide into tobacco use (S-tier). Feel Free, representing the kratom trend, gained popularity among fitness enthusiasts seeking a non-alcoholic high, but is considered B-tier due to its smaller demographic and potential for significant negative impact.

2025 saw protein products take the world by storm, with protein infused into various foods, mirroring the gluten-free trend. While not polarizing, its widespread capitalization by brands makes it B-tier. Products like Poppy, framed as healthier alternatives to mainstream unhealthier options, capitalize on this marketing but offer only marginal improvements, earning a C-tier rating.

The focus shifted from 'ideologically motivated' food trends to pure novelty. Crumbl Cookies, with its weekly absurd cookie releases, was initially impactful but its long-term viability is questioned (B-tier, with some arguing C-tier due to potential flash-in-the-pan nature). Dubai chocolate, another social media-driven novelty, is also placed in C-tier, praised for its virality despite questionable inherent value.

Matcha had a breakout year, becoming a strong coffee competitor and a significant meme presence in 2025 (S-tier). Boba, though popular, is deemed culturally irrelevant compared to matcha and not a significant 2025 trend, earning a D-tier rating.

2025 was marked by an increased willingness to take risks, driven by desperation. Blind box mechanics and financial services enabling easy access to credit exemplify this. Labubu, a Chinese blind box toy, is considered an S-tier trend for its cultural impact, widespread adoption, and even a 'satanic panic' which indicates its staying power and signifies a shift in cultural significance towards Asian products. The Starbucks Bearista cup, a limited-release item leveraging scarcity marketing, is D-tier due to its short-lived hype.

The concept of money became increasingly abstract, facilitated by apps like Afterpay and Klarna. These 'buy now, pay later' services, though not new, achieved ubiquity in 2025, making them A-tier due to their financial and societal impact. Gambling platforms like Kalshi (B-tier) and DraftKings (A-tier) further normalized risk-taking, with Kalshi's vision to 'financialize everything' posing significant cultural damage.

Despite tech companies' record profits, consumer tech in 2025 offered underwhelming products like mediocre iPhones, foldable phones, and smart glasses. Meta Ray-Bans are D-tier due to their lack of fashion, potential for surveillance backlash, and general disinterest. AI, however, is the undeniable S-tier trend. While not delivering awesome consumer products and often proving useless or incorrect, its unavoidable presence in every aspect of consumer life and overwhelming discussion makes it the most significant trend, often eliciting strong negative reactions from users.

As a counter-trend to digital overconsumption and AI's dominance, 2025 saw a resurgence of interest in analog living (B-tier, with aspirations for A-tier in 2026). This includes bringing back CD players, engaging in in-person events like run clubs, and a desire to minimize digital use. This movement represents a push against the impersonal and often frustrating nature of modern tech, emphasizing human connection and imperfect, authentic experiences. This is seen as a crucial way to detract from the 'attention economy' fostered by AI and digital platforms.