The Rise Of Labubus

In today’s world, social media has made it easier than ever for people to share their lives with others.

One of these trends that allows people to view the lives of others is Labubus, as well as the rise of performative consumerism. While these somewhat demonic-looking dolls may seem harmless or even fun, they contribute to cultural degeneration by shifting focus away from real values and issues people face toward empty appearances.

Labubus can be seen as an exaggerated trend created to turn pointless online behavior into something designed only to catch attention. Instead of meaningful expression of ideas, Labubus runs on shock, repetition, and surface-level entertainment. The goal is not truth or connection, but simply to be noticed and push a narrative about you and your life. This marketing strategy perpetuates a cycle where being loud matters more, and content is judged less on what it says and more on how loudly or strangely it is said.

This system works for the people who set it up, as creators receive more engagement, and the company that manufactures these dolls is generating billions of dollars. In fact, Pop Mart, the Hong Kong–based company that manufactures these dolls, has generated nearly four billion dollars from these dolls alone.

Even within the Loyola community, this model has worked. Renn Burke, Class of ’27, states, “I own two Labubus; they were gifts from my sister, who has a collection.” This sentiment demonstrates how Labubus spread through relationships and gifting, making ownership feel personal even when the dolls have no practical use. Another student, Bohdi Morgan, Class of ’27, explains, “I bought one because I wanted, and so I didn’t miss out.” This statement reveals how social pressure and online visibility encourage students to buy into the trend, demonstrating the allure of performative consumerism even when no genuine value exists.

Performative consumerism is closely tied to this and serves as the underlying system that enables it. Instead of buying or supporting something that is useful or meaningful, people engage in consumer behavior mainly to show that they have bought into the trend. A person buys clothing, food, or even experiences because they have value, but people buy Labubus in spite of the fact that they have no value. The impact is a culture where identity is confused with possessions and where self-worth is measured by one’s wealth.

When Labubus and performative consumerism combine, culture starts to decay. Creativity is replaced with recycling attention-grabbing tricks that keep people buying. People begin to care more about how something looks online than about its actual impact, which in turn fuels their desire to buy.

These backward values weaken genuine expression, replacing them with shallow performances designed for likes, shares and sales. If culture is meant to reflect deeper human truths, then Labubus and performative consumerism are dangerous because they push culture toward a focus on consumption. Instead of art, ideas or practices that bring communities together, only fads remain that burn out just as fast as they start trending. To resist cultural degeneration, authenticity must be prioritized over the performance that Labubus and performative consumerism encourage.