Against: Alex Brudvik
First, it was Dubai Chocolate. Then Labubus. This month… a Starbucks bear cup? Look, wanting to be a part of a trend is fine. It’s normal. But what’s not normal is people waiting outside stores overnight, and physically fighting over a cheaply made, corporate mass-produced “Bearista” cup that holds no real value.
Now, the cup itself isn’t the problem. In my eyes, this is just another example of overconsumption and really speaks to a larger issue. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “Global material use has more than tripled since 1970, increasing from 27 billion tons to over 100 billion tons annually.” Now obviously, this comes from many factors, but this is just one of the many trends where people are influenced by social media to buy something that they’ll have no use for just one month later.
To me, it’s incredible how fast we bandwagon onto different useless trends, and to what end? What practical need does a $30 glass cup satisfy? I believe social media is persuading us to buy items impulsively, mainly because of our desire to try and take part in a trend. I mean, think about it. If this cup wasn’t trendy, would you really get one? What about the Labubus? The Owalas?
Now, I’m not trying to be a downer. I get that we can have objects just for the sake of being pretty. I’m all for that — I even wrote an article about just that! But, it’s when we buy these things just because we see others on social media buying them online that makes me wonder why we can’t have our own sense of self.
So, next time you take a sip out of your bear cup, think about where it will end up in one year. Will you still be using it, or will it have been thrown away and dumped into a landfill? Because the internet will already be miles ahead of the next trends, and your cup won’t even be remembered anymore.
For: Ruby Nass
Imagine: a perfect autumn morning. You’re wearing your coziest sweater, the leaves are shifting to hues of amber-gold and you’re drinking coffee out of your adorable Starbucks bear cup. It’s not just a cup, it’s an experience. That tiny, smiling bear adds a moment of joy to your morning, and sometimes that’s exactly what people need to start their day right.
Sure, consumerism might be at fault for this trend, but not every purchase is about overconsumption or keeping up with trends.
According to an article published by FoodPrint, “Americans use an estimated 120 billion disposable cups every year. Replacing just one disposable cup per day would save 23 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, 281 gallons of water and keep 16 pounds of solid waste from going to the landfill each year.”
Some things — like a cute, $30 cup — are about comfort, happiness and small joys in everyday life. Reliving your childhood without fear of judgment while saving the environment sounds like a good deal for a good price. Spending a little on something that sparks joy doesn’t hurt anyone; in fact, it can make ordinary moments memorable.
And let’s be honest: a bear cup is much safer than fighting over Labubus! It’s playful, harmless and even encourages cute trends and community. People aren’t just buying a cup; they’re buying a little ritual, a little fun and a lot of aesthetic happiness.
So yes, the $30 Starbucks bear cup may seem “unnecessary,” but sometimes, the small, whimsical things are worth it — especially when they make life a little brighter.