Dazed and Discoursed: Is the age of hedonistic hyper-consumption over?

In the first Dazed and Discoursed episode of the New Year, hosts Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste are joined by anti-tech writer and artist August Lamm, who has been without an iPhone for two and a half years. In July 2024, 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 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 Charli xcx’s Brat being synonymous with hedonistic indulgence, to Stanley cup fads and excessive skincare hauls, 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, Jibril, Hoste and Lamm 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?

Listen to episode four of Dazed and Discoursed above, or find it on Acast, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.