Introduction to the Boycott Landscape

In 2025, a significant wave of consumer activism has emerged, particularly among left-leaning and progressive communities, in response to perceived political shifts and corporate policy changes. This movement has led to widespread boycotts targeting companies and media outlets that are seen as aligning with or supporting the current administration’s agenda. The following table provides a comprehensive overview of these boycotts, categorizing entities into “Use,” “Avoid,” or “Caution” based on their involvement in controversial policies or actions.

Comprehensive Boycott Table — Left-Leaning / Progressive Focus (2025)

Company / Service	Reason / Context	Recommended Action	Outcome of Boycott
Amazon / Prime Video	DEI rollback, labor practices, political donations	Avoid	Financial impact minimal; no policy change
Walmart / Sam’s Club	DEI rollback, labor practices, corporate greed	Avoid	Financial impact minor; no policy change
Target	DEI rollback, withdrawing diversity goals / supplier programs	Avoid	Significant financial impact (~$12B loss); no policy change
McDonald’s	DEI rollback, supplier diversity changes	Avoid	Minor financial impact; no policy change
PepsiCo	Pausing DEI programs, reducing minority partnerships	Avoid	Minor financial impact; no policy change
Constellation Brands	Removal of DEI initiatives	Avoid	Minor financial impact; no policy change
Barclays (US)	Dropped gender/ethnicity representation targets	Caution	Financial impact unclear; no policy change
Ford	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
Lowe’s	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
Harley-Davidson	DEI rollback; production move to Thailand	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
Toyota	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
Meta	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
AT&T	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
Victoria’s Secret	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
State Street	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
UnitedHealth	DEI rollback	Caution	No confirmed financial impact; no policy change
Paramount+ / CBS	Cancellation of Colbert; perceived political pressure	Avoid	Social/financial impact minor; no policy change
ABC / Disney (TV)	Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after political pressure	Caution	Social impact minor; no policy change
Disney+ / Hulu	Labor disputes, union recognition	Caution	Minor subscriber impact; no policy change
Starz (standalone)	Minimal controversy	Use	Not targeted; safe
AMC+	Minimal controversy	Use	Not targeted; safe
Netflix	Labor issues (strikes)	Use	No boycott impact; safe
No Music For Genocide / BDS-aligned platforms	Cultural / human rights boycott	Caution	Symbolic impact; no policy change
Airbnb	Listings in settlements	Caution	Minor impact; no policy change
Booking.com / ZARA / Inditex brands	Operations in settlements	Caution	Minor impact; no policy change
Economic Blackout / 24-hour spending pause	Protest of DEI rollback, corporate greed	Avoid	Symbolic financial impact; no policy change

Impact of Current Boycotts

Recent studies and surveys indicate a notable shift in consumer behavior:

• 36% of Americans report participating in or planning to participate in boycotts, with 53% of Gen Z and 51% of Hispanic Americans leading this trend. Stagwell
• 24% of U.S. shoppers have abandoned their favorite stores due to political stances taken by these retailers. The Guardian
• A 6.8% year-over-year decline in foot traffic at Target stores was observed during a week coinciding with a major boycott. Forbes
  • 12.4 billion lost during 40 day boycott
• In the entertainment sector, over 1,800 actors, entertainers, and producers, including Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Mark Ruffalo, have signed a pledge refusing to work with Israeli film institutions, condemning them as complicit in alleged genocide and apartheid against Palestinians during Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Reuters

These statistics underscore the growing influence of consumer activism and its potential to impact financially, due to corporate policies and practices.

Side-note

Many of the boycotts reflected in this table generated measurable financial impact (e.g., Target’s ~$12 billion market value decline), yet for most companies, no substantive policy changes were made. The primary effect of activism in these cases has been economic, without producing the policy outcomes that organizers had sought.

So How Do We Affect Real Policy Change?

Activist Toolkit for Driving Policy Change in Targeted Companies

Strategy	How to Apply	Tools / Examples	Notes / Tips
1. Public Pressure Campaigns	Amplify the issue via media, social channels, and public statements.	Social media campaigns (#BoycottTargetDEI), press releases, open letters to CEOs, influencer partnerships.	Focus on clarity: what policy you want changed, why, and how ignoring it harms reputation.
2. Petition & Signature Drives	Gather large-scale public support to demand policy changes.	Online platforms (Change.org, MoveOn), email lists, community signups.	Include specific, measurable policy requests (e.g., “Reinstate supplier diversity program by Q2 2026”).
3. Shareholder Advocacy	Purchase minimal shares to gain voting rights or submit proposals at AGMs.	Publicly traded companies (Target, Walmart, Amazon).	Even small shareholder proposals draw attention and can be reported in financial news.
4. Direct Corporate Engagement	Attend public meetings, Q&As, and send letters/emails to leadership.	Town halls, investor days, corporate social responsibility (CSR) contact forms.	Be professional but firm: reference reputational risks, customer loyalty, and public expectations.
5. Employee / Insider Coalitions	Support or organize employees who advocate for policy change internally.	Employee networks, unions, whistleblower protections.	Insider voices often sway corporate decisions more than external boycotts.
6. Regulatory / Legal Pressure	Highlight potential legal or regulatory risks tied to current policies.	Complaints to EEOC, OSHA, consumer protection agencies; ESG rating agencies.	Focus on transparency, compliance, and reputational risk.
7. Positive Incentives & PR	Show companies that acting on the request can generate goodwill and customer growth.	Highlight successful companies that improved DEI and gained positive media coverage.	Encourage a “win-win” narrative: policy change = better brand perception + loyalty.
8. Conditional Financial Pressure	Tie boycotts or spending reductions to clear, achievable policy goals.	Public statements: “We will resume purchases/subscriptions if X happens by Y date.”	Deadlines and measurable objectives make boycotts actionable rather than symbolic.
9. Coalition Building	Partner with advocacy groups, unions, and NGOs to increase pressure.	People’s Union USA, labor advocacy groups, DEI-focused organizations.	Coordinated campaigns increase credibility and visibility.
10. Monitoring & Reporting	Track progress, make updates public, and celebrate successes.	Websites, newsletters, social media updates on compliance or lack thereof.	Transparency helps maintain momentum and holds companies accountable.

While boycotts can produce measurable financial impact, as seen with Target and other companies, they often do not result in substantive policy changes on their own. To create meaningful change, it is essential to combine economic pressure with coordinated public advocacy, direct engagement, shareholder activism, coalition-building, and clear demands for specific policy outcomes. Activists can maximize their influence by making it clear what must change, setting measurable goals and deadlines, and publicly tracking progress. In this way, consumer activism becomes more than a symbolic gesture—it becomes a strategic tool for holding companies accountable and driving real, lasting change in corporate policies.