Planned obsolescence: Difference between revisions

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'''Planned obsolescence''' is a business strategy where products are intentionally designed to become obsolete, undesirable, or to stop functioning within a predetermined time-frame, forcing consumers to replace them. This practice maximizes profits for corporations, but leads to unnecessary waste and consumer frustration.

[[wikipedia:Planned_obsolescence|'''Planned obsolescence''']] is a business strategy where products are intentionally designed to become obsolete, undesirable, or to stop functioning within a predetermined time-frame, forcing consumers to replace them. This practice maximizes profits for corporations, but leads to unnecessary waste and consumer frustration.

The phrase "planned obsolescence" was coined in 1932 by Bernard London, who proposed mandatory product expiration to stimulate Depression-era economies. Brooks Stevens later popularized it in the 1950s, defining it as instilling a desire for newer products "sooner than necessary".

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Vance Packard's 1960, ''{{Wplink|The Waste Makers}}'', critiqued corporations for manipulating desires through style changes and a perception of being out of date. Modern {{Wplink|fast fashion}} and tech industries continue this trend, fostering "throwaway" cultures.

~~<u>~~Types of Planned Obsolescence~~:</u>~~

==Types of Planned Obsolescence==

*Contrived or Artificial Durability: Designing products with inferior materials that wear out quickly or using non-removable/repairable components.

* Contrived or Artificial Durability: Designing products with inferior materials that wear out quickly or using non-removable/repairable components.

*Systemic Obsolescence: Technological incompatibility, such as software updates rendering older devices unusable.

* Systemic Obsolescence: Technological incompatibility, such as software updates rendering older devices unusable.

*Perceived or Aesthetic Obsolescence: Marketing-driven trends that make functional items seem outdated.

* Perceived or Aesthetic Obsolescence: Marketing-driven trends that make functional items seem outdated.

*Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.

* Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.

Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, and/or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, with glued-in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mauro |last=Cordella |first2=Felice |last2=Alfieri |first3=Christian |last3=Clemm |first4=Anton |last4=Berwald |display-authors=2 |title=Durability of smartphones: A technical analysis of reliability and repairability aspects |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |website=nih.gov |date=1 Dec 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102180741/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125388 |pmc=7871336 |pmid=33658746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Smartphone Repairability Scores |url=https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |website=iFixit |access-date=18 Jul 2025}}</ref> These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies.

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-'''Planned obsolescence''' is a business strategy where products are intentionally designed to become obsolete, undesirable, or to stop functioning within a predetermined time-frame, forcing consumers to replace them. This practice maximizes profits for corporations, but leads to unnecessary waste and consumer frustration.
+[[wikipedia:Planned_obsolescence|'''Planned obsolescence''']] is a business strategy where products are intentionally designed to become obsolete, undesirable, or to stop functioning within a predetermined time-frame, forcing consumers to replace them. This practice maximizes profits for corporations, but leads to unnecessary waste and consumer frustration.
 The phrase "planned obsolescence" was coined in 1932 by Bernard London, who proposed mandatory product expiration to stimulate Depression-era economies. Brooks Stevens later popularized it in the 1950s, defining it as instilling a desire for newer products "sooner than necessary".
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 Vance Packard's 1960, ''{{Wplink|The Waste Makers}}'', critiqued corporations for manipulating desires through style changes and a perception of being out of date. Modern {{Wplink|fast fashion}} and tech industries continue this trend, fostering "throwaway" cultures.
-<u>Types of Planned Obsolescence:</u>
+==Types of Planned Obsolescence==
+*Contrived or Artificial Durability: Designing products with inferior materials that wear out quickly or using non-removable/repairable components.
-* Contrived or Artificial Durability: Designing products with inferior materials that wear out quickly or using non-removable/repairable components.
+*Systemic Obsolescence: Technological incompatibility, such as software updates rendering older devices unusable.
-* Systemic Obsolescence: Technological incompatibility, such as software updates rendering older devices unusable.
+*Perceived or Aesthetic  Obsolescence: Marketing-driven trends that make functional items seem outdated.
-* Perceived or Aesthetic  Obsolescence: Marketing-driven trends that make functional items seem outdated.
+*Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.
-* Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.
 Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, and/or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, with glued-in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mauro |last=Cordella |first2=Felice |last2=Alfieri |first3=Christian |last3=Clemm |first4=Anton |last4=Berwald |display-authors=2 |title=Durability of smartphones: A technical analysis of reliability and repairability aspects |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |website=nih.gov |date=1 Dec 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102180741/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125388 |pmc=7871336 |pmid=33658746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Smartphone Repairability Scores |url=https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |website=iFixit |access-date=18 Jul 2025}}</ref> These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies.