In July 2024, writer and artist August Lamm shared her prediction for the future on X: “I’m calling it right now: abstention is the next big thing. Sobriety, celibacy, digital minimalism, dumb phones, religion. The age of hedonistic hyper-consumption is over. We’re moving into a new peaceful age marked by moderation and self-discipline. I can’t wait.”

Lamm, who has been without an iPhone for two and a half years, wasn’t basing her prediction on trends she’d seen online (she doesn’t have a phone, remember?). Instead, she expressed her desire for a shift in culture, grounded in the belief that we have reached peak hyper-consumption. From Brat being synonymous with hedonistic indulgence, to Stanley cup fads and excessive skincare hauls, to Oxford’s Word of the Year, “brain rot”, a term describing the negative effects of consuming low-quality or trivial online content, 2024 was undeniably a year of excess.

As we enter the new year, however, a cultural shift seems to be emerging. People are challenging their consumption habits by participating in low-buy or no-buy years, where they refrain from shopping for an entire year. Others are turning to digital detoxes in an effort to rebuild their attention spans, productivity and overall

well-being.

In this episode, hosts Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste are joined by Lamm to unpack our addiction to consumption, our scarcity mentality, and whether we’re simply swinging from one extreme to another – from hedonistic hyper-consumption to complete restriction. Is this the beginning of a world without pleasure, or could moderation finally offer the balance we’ve been craving?

Featured articles: 

• No-buy 2025: So you want to try a year without shopping?
• How to avoid ‘lifestyle creep’
• You Don't Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading & Reclaiming Your Life by August Lamm

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