Boycotting seems like a harsh and difficult action to do in today’s market, but “a quarter of Americans are boycotting a product or company they had spent money on in the past, according to a recent survey from online loan marketplace LendingTree” (Taylor, 2022).
“People are expressing themselves not only with their voices, but with their wallets” and “to move the world forward, you have to think about how to make good trouble, and get more creative with your tactics.” (Taylor, 2022).
“The most-cited reason for boycotting? Political donations, mentioned by 39% of respondents in the LendingTree survey. That was followed by treatment of employees (34%), stance on social issues (33%), and policy positions (30%)” (Taylor, 2022).
With all of these issues being in the 30% range of consumers who actively boycott, it is seen that these are all important topics when it comes to the decision to spend. Companies have to align with what you believe in to get your business.
But “the real challenge for consumers” when it comes to boycotting is “how much to let political and social issues guide your purchasing decisions. There are so many potential subjects you might disagree on with a company, that it would be very easy to enter any mall or supermarket and be completely paralyzed” (Taylor, 2022).
“On a practical level, it requires a huge amount of time and effort” from the consumer “to stay current on the issues of every company you do business with on a daily basis. It is also challenging to boycott multinationals which may make hundreds of different products” (Taylor, 2022).
From the overload of information in the hundreds of companies that we encounter to the all-encompassing corporations that limit our options to buy, how can we as consumers engage more thoughtfully with how we consume goods, and how can this be made easier within our current system? Is there a way for design to create something that balances personal finance goals, needs, wants, and the ability to navigate the market with your social, political, and ethical beliefs? If we continuously push the narrative to shift towards a market that values the people, resources, and places it encompasses, could we change our collective well-being for the better?
References:
Taylor, C. (2022, June 29). Boycott Nation: How Americans are boycotting companies now. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/boycott-nation-how-americans-are-boycotting-companies-now-2022-06-29/
