Prompt Cast
The History of Planned Obsolescence: How Manufacturers Manipulate Consumers
TLDR This podcast explores the history of planned obsolescence, from the deliberate reduction of light bulb lifespan by the Phoebus cartel to the introduction of different car models and marketing strategies by Alfred P. Sloan, ultimately leading to the concept of planned obsolescence in the modern consumer industry.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The history of planned obsolescence, the deliberate breaking of products to encourage more purchases, is explored through two stories that reveal its impact on the consumer economy.
04:16
The story of an eternal light bulb called Byron the Bulb, which is conscious and being pursued by a group of light bulb manufacturers called Phoebus, is based on historical facts and raises the question of whether a light bulb could actually last forever.
08:05
The Phoebus cartel was formed by major light bulb manufacturers in the 1920s to control the market and intentionally reduce the lifespan of light bulbs in order to increase sales.
12:27
The Phoebus cartel successfully reduced the lifespan of light bulbs to 1,000 hours, increased sales, and coordinated a unified system for light bulb threads and sockets, but eventually faced legal trouble and was disrupted by World War II.
16:10
The next story of obsolescence involves the rise of automobiles, specifically Henry Ford's Model T, and the influence of Alfred P. Sloan, an electrical engineer and businessman who played a significant role in the development of General Motors.
20:26
Alfred Sloan introduced different makes and models of cars, including luxury, premium, middle-class, and economy lines, and used marketing strategies to target women as the primary purchasers, such as making cars more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing with different colors, ultimately aiming to sell a new car to consumers every year.
24:27
By introducing psychological obsolescence and marketing strategies that made consumers want something new, even if they didn't necessarily need it, Alfred Sloan revolutionized the car industry and set the stage for the iPhone's planned obsolescence.
28:17
Apple denies that they slowed down older phones to drive upgrades, but if they did, it would be a perfect example of planned obsolescence, although the most powerful kind of obsolescence is in our heads and we choose it ourselves.
Categories:
History
Society & Culture
