Prompt Cast
The Dark Side of Planned Obsolescence: How Companies Manipulate Consumers
TLDR Companies intentionally design products to have a shorter lifespan, known as planned obsolescence, in order to force consumers to buy new ones. This practice not only leads to environmental damage but also manipulates prices and availability, making it more expensive to repair than to buy a new product.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Companies deliberately make their products to last a shorter amount of time in order to make consumers have to buy another one sooner, a practice known as planned obsolescence.
05:17
Planned obsolescence is a real thing that has been happening since the early 1900s, starting with the light bulb cartel and later adopted by automakers like General Motors to sell more cars.
10:17
Planned obsolescence was first mentioned in a 1932 pamphlet titled "Ending the Depression through Planned Obsolescence," which proposed the idea of products having an artificial expiration date and consumers being charged a tax for using them beyond that date, but this idea did not gain traction.
15:08
Planned obsolescence was first introduced in the 1930s and 1940s, when products were made to last a lifetime, but the idea of stimulating the economy by selling the same person's stuff multiple times over their life gained traction in the 1950s.
20:45
Apple is a major offender of planned obsolescence, as evidenced by their updates that slow down phones and the class action lawsuit against them for it.
25:34
Creating newer models that are incompatible with older models, such as Apple's decision to remove the headphone jack, is a classic hallmark of planned obsolescence, forcing consumers to spend more money on additional peripherals or upgrade to the newer model.
30:41
Companies that control the repair and parts of their products can manipulate prices and availability to make it more expensive to repair than to buy a new one, ultimately leading consumers to throw away their old products and purchase newer models.
35:42
Planned obsolescence can lead to an increase in the percentage of products that need to be replaced within a short period of time, such as electrical and electronic products and household appliances.
41:09
Planned obsolescence can result in expensive appliances that break down quickly and are costly to repair, leading consumers to eventually replace them rather than continue repairing them.
45:51
Planned obsolescence leads to millions of appliances and electronics being thrown away and not recycled, causing environmental damage, but there are efforts in Europe and some states in the US to create standards and laws that promote durability, repairability, and informed consumer choice.
50:35
Planned obsolescence can be seen as beneficial for industry and the economy, as it keeps employees working and promotes technological innovation, but it also contributes to environmental waste and consumer responsibility.
Categories:
Society & Culture
