BEUC – together with 25 members from 21 countries – filed a complaint today with the European Commission and European consumer protection authorities against SHEIN for its use of deceptive techniques (‘dark patterns’). These push consumers into purchasing more than originally intended and fuel the environmental and societal problems caused by the fast fashion industry.
Yet some people are able to not buy shit just because they see it on a site, so maybe not everyone is like you say
You don’t have to have a total lack of self control to be prone to overconsumption. That’s a caricature you have in your mind that’s main function is to make you feel better about your own habits which keeps many from examining their habits in any detail.
I also run a lot of ad blockers and tracking blockers as well as educate myself on how advertisers use people’s insecurities against them. The “How TV Ruined Your Life” series is a pretty comprehensive. Coercion by Douglas Rushkoff is also great for immunizing yourself.
edit: Updated with links. The core of Coercion is still relevant, but it’s tech/internet perspective was from the early 2000s.