Some people may judge that success can be seen from what goods or brands of goods the person uses.
Flexing culture is a culture that is getting increasingly popular, especially with a rise in the number of social media users worldwide.
The definition of flexing culture, or formerly referred to as conspicuous consumption, is elucidated in a book titled "The Theory of the Leisure Class" (1899) written by Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and sociologist.
According to Veblen, conspicuous consumption, or what is known today as flexing culture, is a type of consumption that is closely related to exhibiting luxury goods or engaging in luxury activities, with the objective of seeking validation from the community.
For instance, in recent years, scores of teenagers wore clothes of Spanish designers, such as from a brand called Balenciaga, with the pricing at around RM 3,000, and the main objective being to create an impression on friends as well as a form of prestige competition among peers.
It seems impossible for teenagers to be able to afford items at such price, expect if they are bought by their parents or if they have been working part-time since long.
Another example is someone who often shows off his luxury vacation agenda, such as vacationing in Europe, the US, or other parts of the world, which are places considered to be expensive to visit, to many people through his social media account.
In the context of flexing culture, this is done, so that his social media followers can see how happy and successful he is to be able to live such a glamorous life.
In some cases, they even combine the purchase of luxury goods with traveling abroad and then post it on their social media handles to garner greater validation in the form of likes and compliments from their followers.
According to Bain & Company, in 2021, China, as the country with the second-highest GDP in the world, contributed US$73.59 billion out of the US$320.6-billion global luxury goods spending.
It means that China accounted for about 22.95 percent of the luxury goods market globally. Meanwhile, the United States, as the country with the highest GDP in the world, spent around US$102.59 billion, or its share of the global luxury goods market reached about 32 percent.
Before the pandemic surfaced in 2019, China remained a country, with the largest luxury goods market globally.
However, due to the strict shutdown in Beijing and Shanghai, luxury brands are counting on Americans to keep spending.
The question that now arises is that "Should the flexing culture be judged as a form of self-expression or should it only be judged as conspicuous consumption?” Self-expression can indeed be associated with what we wear and what is worn can symbolize our personality.
Therefore, many young people today oppose the culture of flexing as a negative thing because for them if they are happy with what they are wearing or doing, and content if what they are wearing or doing can be seen and validated by people, then it is legitimate.
In addition, they argue that buying luxury goods or going on vacations is a form of self-reward and if they are happy with such things, then why should they view it as something negative.
On the other hand, some people contend that the flexing culture is merely a form of conspicuous consumption, which means that consumption is only aimed at displaying wealth and showing one’s social status.
As the price to be paid by people to buy such luxury goods is high, those who own branded items are considered superior to others.
This is especially when they show off their luxury brands in public, with members from different economic classes, in which case, the purchase of luxury goods will highlight their higher social status than others.
To best respond to it, the answer must be seen from the intention and ability of a person to buy these luxury items and showcase them on social media. There is an interesting saying that "if you can't afford to buy something twice, then you can't afford it".
This means that a person must have twice the money to buy the item in order to have that kind of purchasing capacity. If by buying expensive things, he slips into poverty, then purchasing luxury goods is something that is too forced.
Talking about intentions, it is true that no one else knows that person's intentions other than himself and Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Therefore, if the intention of someone posting details of luxury goods on social media is about self-expression, then we are not allowed to prohibit it, as someone's social media account is something that is his or her responsibility.
However, if the intention is to compete with friends, then it should be avoided, because, in fact, life and success are not about prestige and competition, but about how to live life according to religious orders.
*) Praditya Adiga is an Indonesian student in International Islamic University Malaysia.
The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the ANTARA News Agency.
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