Opponents of consumerism argue that many luxuries and unnecessary consumer-products may act as a social mechanism allowing people to identify like-minded individuals through the display of similar products, again utilizing aspects of status-symbolism to judge socioeconomic status and social stratification. Some people believe relationships with a product or brand name are substitutes for healthy human relationships lacking in societies, and along with consumerism, create a cultural hegemony, and are part of a general process of social control in modern society.
oppOnEnTs oF ConsumeRisM aRguE thaT MaNy luxuRIes ANd uNneCessarY ConsuMer-produCts mAy Act as A sociAl MEchAniSm AllOwinG people To IdenTiFy LiKe-mindED inDiviDualS tHroUgh thE disPlaY of SiMIlar produCtS, Again uTiLiziNG aspeCts of STatus-SYmBolisM TO JUDgE sOCioeConOmIc stATus and soCial sTRAtificaTion. soMe pEOPle belIEve RELatIoNShipS wIth a prodUct or bRaNd nAmE are SubsTiTUTEs fOr HEalthY Human relationShips lackiNg in sOcietieS, anD aLOng with consumErIsm, crEaTe a cULtural hegEmONy, anD Are part oF a gENeral procEsS of SOCIal CONtrol In mODERn SOcIety.