Consumeration

Consumeration is a neologism describing the increasing influence of individual consumers and consumer organizations on markets, product development, and public policy through feedback, data, and collective action. It captures the shift from passive consumption to active shaping of supply chains and normative standards.

The term is informal and variably defined; it appears in academic and media discussions about consumer-driven change but is not a standardized concept in economics or sociology.

Key mechanisms include online reviews, rating platforms, social media campaigns, data-driven personalization, participatory design, and consumer advocacy groups. Companies frequently monitor reviews, beta programs, and co-design initiatives, while regulators seek consumer input through consultation exercises.

Potential benefits include improved product quality, more targeted services, stronger consumer rights, and greater inclusivity of diverse needs. Critics warn of overemphasis on vocal users, privacy concerns, and the possibility that power concentrates in large platforms capable of mobilizing large numbers.

Related concepts include consumer sovereignty, consumerization, participatory design, user-centered design, co-creation, and digital activism.

Because it is informal and context-dependent, readers should check how the term is defined in a given discussion. It remains a loosely used idea describing the growing capacity of consumers to influence markets, products, and policy, rather than a fixed, universally agreed phenomenon.