<![CDATA[This study examines the phenomenon of Buy Now Pay Later (PayLater) consumption using the perspective of Jürgen Habermas’ theory of communicative rationality, focusing on how digital financial services shape public consumption patterns and construct pseudo-needs. The study aims to analyze the influence of PayLater on consumer rationality and decision-making behavior in the context of digital capitalism.This research employs a qualitative approach with a literature review method. Data were collected from reputable scientific journals indexed in SINTA and Scopus, supported by academic database searches such as Google Scholar. The selected literature was based on relevance, credibility, and publication year (2020–2024).The findings indicate that PayLater services encourage consumptive behavior by promoting instant gratification and the construction of pseudo-needs, which weaken individuals’ communicative rationality. Consumers tend to be influenced by systemic and technological structures embedded in digital platforms, resulting in less critical and less reflective financial decisions.Therefore, strengthening critical awareness and financial literacy is essential to maintain rational control over consumption. PayLater technology should not dominate human values but must remain guided by ethical considerations and real needs.]]>
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