"You Still Don’t Have One?": 30 Things We’ve All Been Brainwashed Into Wanting

In a world where advertising constantly whispers (or screams) in our ears about what we need to be happy, successful, or accepted, one Reddit user threw a thought-provoking question into the mix: “What is something people are 100% brainwashed into believing they need?”

The answers poured in, and they weren’t just about consumer goods — they peeled back layers of societal expectations, cultural conditioning, and personal insecurity. Here’s a look at some of the most upvoted and brutally honest responses.

#1

Image source: screwedupinaz, Rodolfo Clix Religion. One of my favorite sayings is from a meme: "If you need the threat of hell to be a good person, then you're just a bad person on a leash.".

#2

Image source: alangbas, Leonardo Miranda Expensive weddings.

#3

Image source: ShadyMyLady, Luis Quintero The newest phone every year no matter the price.

#4

Image source: its-how-i-roll, Alex Hussein Gender Reveal...

#5

Image source: awholedamngarden, Borko Manigoda An endless stream of clothes/accessories to follow every trend. Overconsumption of clothing is a huge issue.

#6

Expensive funerals and coffins. Just incinerate me when it's time. I'll be dead, I obviously won't care. And even if I did believe in an afterlife I still don't see why I would care as I wouldn't be hanging around my old self. Image source: MattWolf96

#7

A need to sympathize with billionaires and celebrities who don’t give two s***s about us. Image source: OverallAd9706

#8

Image source: NarrowIntroduction84, Brett Sayles The belief that everyone needs to have children, which, in my opinion, is a dangerous mindset since you have people who neglect their kids abuse their kids m****r there kids ect.

#9

To ruin the lives of people that are different than they are. Image source: iAMguppy

#10

Image source: ovid31, Anna Shvets Super white teeth. It doesn’t look weird at all.

#11

Image source: business_socksss, Kaboompics.com A 12 step skin care routine.

#12

Image source: SaltyPopcornKitty, Filip Rankovic Grobgaard Designer anything.

#13

Image source: The_Mr_Wilson, Jakob Owens Diamond jewelry It can be made in labs. Chemically and atomically the exact same stuff that gets pulled out of the earth with child and slave labor. Then hoarded to artificially inflate the price. *All that blood and misery just for something shiny to look at.* "A wedding ring should be 3mo pay," screw that nonsense the entire and whole way! It's just cut and polished carbon; whoopty-f*****g-do.

#14

Image source: Hohenmeyer2, Antoni Shkraba Studio A new car as soon as the old car is paid off.

#15

Image source: InstructionFair5221, Mohamed hamdi Religion to be a good person....you need empathy.

#16

Image source: smack4u, Kateryna Hliznitsova You can fix stuff. Don’t have to replace every time.

#17

Image source: marcellabp, Pixabay Social media.

#18

Image source: WolfGrouchy1953, Josh Willink A relationship. Learn to be happy on your own and things will fall into place.

#19

Image source: sparkyvt, RDNE Stock project Fabric softener. Just more perfumes and probably micro plastics.

#20

Big trucks when not in the trades. Big SUVs for a family of 4. Etc. etc. Image source: Content-Fudge489

#21

Image source: ajm_usn321, Alena Darmel Climbing the corporate ladder. You spend years stepping on rungs made of stress and unpaid overtime, only to realize the top floor belongs to someone else—and they just pulled the ladder up behind them.

#22

Image source: FoxPuzzled4969, Majestic Lukas Gonna keep this light. Most people don’t NEED a shower every day. Embrace the ponytail and wear that shirt a third time before washing. The earth will thank you. But PLEASE, however funky you get, brush and floss those teeth twice a day.

#23

A gigantic fake a*s. Image source: Loud-Entertainer7218

#24

To prove they're right. You don't need to reply to every comment that denies the point you were trying to make. Your time is valuable. State your points and move on with your life. Image source: CountlessStories

#25

Image source: Kajega, Kateryna Hliznitsova A million vitamins and supplements every day, like hundreds of dollars a month amounts.

#26

A lot of things for babies. Babies don’t need things, parents think they need things to make their lives easier. Diaper genies are not easier and 100% more gross and that’s a hill I will die on. Image source: thymetogohome

#27

Grass lawns. Image source: smitheroons

#28

New cars, new clothes, new rugs, new homes, new stuff. Image source: JustMe1235711

#29

A four-year degree for jobs that pay you $18/hr and ask if you’re 'passionate about Excel.' Image source: LornaWhirl

#30

Image source: AdMurky3039, ZenTrainee Keurigs. Making coffee is not that hard or time-consuming.