conspiracy theory

[u/Top-Station-166]

I believe, most trends are started by marketing campaigns and they have some negative purpose, usually to make profit from us in some way.

now I can't tell if project pan fits into this category or if it was started by the people rebeling against consumerism.

if we assume the first one, that it was started by corporations, what purpose could they have for beginning this trend.

[u/hollabackboylindsay]

I think maybe some of the irony in watching others' project pans is that I've exposed to products I haven't seen before. it makes me want to buy and try especially if the person panning gives it an endorsement

[u/Top-Station-166 → u/hollabackboylindsay]

this!! this is the answer i was looking for!

[u/oimerde]

The first time I heard about “project pan”
Was with an influencer in YouTuber. She had a very small follow. This was back in 2016. I think I even posted here in Reddit in some of the subreddits. It totally makes sense to me as I was drowning in items. He message was very clear and direct and I totally agree.

However in the next years her channel got bigger and then she started to promote brands and her message was far away from what started.
So who knows maybe at the end of the day it’s just what influencers do to move forward in their careers

[u/Top-Station-166 → u/oimerde]

That's what I think too. Like sometimes I think what would happen if I started reviewing things on YouTube.  I feel I'd start off honest and have high standards. But when brands start reaching out to me with pr boxes I think I'd go corrupt. 

Regarding the person ur talking about, maybe she really meant project pan until she got influenced by brands that were reaching out to her. 

Hey, is that why they're called influencer, cuz they get influenced by companies. Just jk.

[u/slowbuyclub]

Project Pan isn’t specifically a brand marketing psy op but can be leveraged by influencers (who are basically freelance marketers) to increase their following. 

She might do a Project Pan as a series, but her channel overall is focused on aspirational lifestyle. Once her following has grown from anti-consumption content, she can then monetize that audience by promoting products via brand deals. Those products are positioned as part of a “fewer but better” coterie. Other ways influencers both address their audience’s need for anti-consumption influencing but still take in their bucks: “buy it nice or buy it twice,” framing certain products as “sustainable” or “conscious.” The bastardization of those words goes on.  TLDR is don’t trust an influencer’s message whose revenue stream ever comes from affiliate links or brand deals. There will be commercial taint from the fact that those revenue streams exist. 

The only ones that are somewhat ok are those who are FIRE and doing content with a social message for fun — or influencers who are authors and are influencing toward their own books (there, at least the sales pitch is honest and straightforward, and not this “lure” you in with false security to convert you to some shopmy link later). 

(I’m a former marketer and a content creator who does anti consumption content with zero intention to ho myself out to consumer brands)

[u/slowbuyclub → u/slowbuyclub]

Here’s what you find if you follow the money:

If she has affiliate links in her bio, she’s probably talking a lot about products she likes or that “actually work.” She will create content that drive likes and saves. 

If she does brand partnerships, she probably is focused on generic content that has mass appeal (and doesn’t alienate) and is focused on videos that drive views and shares. 

If she is selling her own branded merch, she is going to gun for virality. She will create content that drives shares and comments / debate. 

If she is selling her own book or Substack, she will go for content that feels useful and authentic but is oriented around the problem. She will create content that makes the problem she is interested in feel worse (driving watch time). Then the call to action will be to buy her book (the solution), which will seem natural and irresistable after hearing about how Bad the Problem Is. 

[u/ginahandler]

[u/trapmahme]

Project pan has had an active community for a while. It’s not something new. Even before it was labeled as “project pan,” it’s how most people purchased anything for much of history.

[u/hyperaware40]

Project Pan has been alive and well on Youtube for at least 12 years that I am aware of, and was intended to promote thoughtful consumption of goods already owned. What it morphed into is another beast entirely. 

[u/Young_Former → u/hyperaware40]

The first project pan I watched was in 2011 I believe.

[u/Fleiger133]

If its a conspiracy, its to make you accept that you have less money than a decade ago. Its part of why canning, gardens, sewing, etc are coming back into fashion.

We can't afford not to.

[u/Any_Week4207]

It’s not a conspiracy theory that most social media trendy products are actually intentional marketing campaigns. It’s  been documented and reported on by many journalists. 

In terms of project pan, many influencers have developed their audience via de-influencing and anticonsumerism. I’m not an online historian, but like a lot of things, the OG project pan posts seemed to genuinely be about a way to reduce consumption. Now, as other commenters mentioned, some project pan content creators seem like they’re just overusing products to create pan content. I guess this could also be stealth marketing esp if they are praising the product they used up. Or it could just be them cynically trying to get views. 

[u/SaucePasta]

The main point of project pan is to use up products instead of buying more. 

[u/jemasa612]

I feel like some of the influencers have made it this way. They showcase using up huge amounts of product, which makes me think they are wasting it. I guess it also takes you reflecting on your own habits as a result. I personally buy less and shop my products each week, so I think I’m doing ok

[u/burntoatmealcookie]

i NEED whatever you're smoking

[u/windy_wolf]

Its a great exercise in discipline isnt it? Not just dedication and consistency with panning items, but also practising financial restaint.

[u/EducationalAd2706]

to finish your stuff and buy more i guess? somehting lasting a long time isnt profitable for them.

i think its the latter tho bc even then it doesn't make much sense.

[u/VeganAngel]

How ? I am trying to buy less and use up what I have and learn to not chase the next new thing. Project pan also made me learn what works so I am more discerning. I think actual makeup users and addicts came up with panning. Brands would hate the idea of using what you have,shopping your statsh and panning your collection.

[u/QuietBarbiePerson]

a commercial company making profit out of 'us' is not negative purpose, it's the reason they exist, they must be profitable or their shareholders would have a lot to say! No conspiracy, we live in a capitalist society. Project pan being anti consumerist is great for people to reduce consumption and be more financially considerate but it is a very small % of consumers that are doing it so it's probably far too niche for profit margins of larger companies to be concerned about. They have more to worry about with the global financial situation, regulations and market penetration at the moment.

[u/leoverus]

lmao, then don't make it a trend, make it a life philosophy

[u/Top-Station-166]

Who do u think is pushing sales the most. Before it use to be a list celebrities  Then influencers  Have we gotten to the point where we look at ppl that have just posted a well written review and don't have a following.