Why You’re Addicted to Escapism (And Don’t Even Know It)

Why are we constantly reaching for $18 Erewhon smoothies, binge-reading romantasy novels, and scrolling through AI boyfriend apps? In 2025, it feels like everything we consume is designed to pull us out of our real lives—and into a curated fantasy. In this video, we explore why escapism has become the most valuable product on the market, and how brands, influencers, and entire industries are selling us not solutions—but distractions. From Temu trinkets to “clean girl” aesthetics, we’ll look at how this fantasy economy is shaping the way we shop, scroll, cope, and construct our identities. But this isn’t just about internet trends. We’ll trace the history of cultural escapism through the 1950s housewife fantasy, 1980s mall culture, and Tumblr’s dreamy soft grunge era. We’ll unpack how capitalism profits from our exhaustion—and why a generation that’s overworked, underpaid, and emotionally fried is buying dreams instead of stability. So the big question is: Are we escaping to survive, or being sold the illusion of peace to keep us quiet? Let’s talk about it in the comments: Is escapism your coping mechanism, your guilty pleasure… or your quiet rebellion? Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM4hiMCyAEMxibzIYrOKD5Q/join #Escapism #FantasyCulture #SocialCommentary #AestheticCulture #QuietLuxury #CleanGirlAesthetic #BurnoutCulture #TemuHaul #Erewhon #Romantasy #CoquetteAesthetic #SoftGirlEra #MillennialFatigue #CulturalAnalysis #LauraJaneAtelier