If we read newspapers and magazines regularly, it is not uncommon for us to discover a lot of advertisements urging us to buy different products. However, a glimpse at this situation already sets the alarm bell ringing as we are taught to live a simple life at school while the media keeps encouraging us to spend more.
It is really difficult for us teenagers to deal with such a contradiction. First, we should know that what the school teaches us to consume less and save precious energy resources is always correct. We are a member of the global village so we have the duty to protect it.
In this case, it is the enterprises which should strike a balance between making profits and educating teenagers. Profit maximization is not wrong, but social responsibility is vital at the same time. The media should also help to promote a healthier message: teenagers should live a simple life instead of purchasing expensive products. Enterprises and the media should know that targeting young people is never a good choice as promoting the shopping culture will only warp their minds.
Being teens ourselves, we all know young people are easily affected, especially by friends and the media. When the media keeps urging us to buy different expensive products, many of us will eventually be attracted and spare no efforts to get them. The same will happen if we see our friends having numerous kinds of brand-name products since it is hard, if not impossible, for us not to jump on the same bandwagon in order to get along with our friends. Some of us may ask our families or borrow from friends so as to get what we want. This situation is already shocking because we should be concentrating on our studies rather than focusing on buying different luxuries. More seriously, some teens, hopefully not you or me, may become shopping addicts. When they do not have enough money, they may resort to committing crimes and our social stability will be further affected.
Promoting shopping culture in excess really takes a toll. Although Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise, this name is actually targeting tourists and people who can afford to buy different products. It is absolutely not teenagers ourselves who should spend all our money chasing brand-name products. The media, the government and enterprises of course need to assume a role in correcting such distorted values. However, the onus is on us to have our own minds and live a less wasteful life.
A less wasteful life can be achieved through different ways. First, reducing consumption, reusing and recycling are good ways to protect our earth. For example, opening more windows to maintain a good ventilation instead of turning the air-conditioners on can help save our precious energy resources. Moreover, buying things only when necessary can avoid producing more waste. Second, we should resist shopping lures. When adults have brand-name products, it is not necessary for us to buy brand-name products too. We should always remind ourselves that having our own styles is essential. Lastly, we should encourage our friends not to be affected by the shopping culture. Only by standing firm on living a less wasteful life can we avoid developing bad shopping habits and help create a better society.