Explain the phases of "Customer Retention" and "Repeat Sales" to a psychologist and I'm very sure they'll call it the addiction cycle.
Empowering people to remain independent, to be able to do something and detach from the economy to support a self sustainable lifestyle is harmful for business as it means revenue source lost. Keeping them coming back to you for replacements means the revenue keeps getting generated. And it goes even bigger, this puts a pressure to constantly spend, hence to constantly earn and so to constantly be employed so the engine keeps running.
So they'll always sell enslavement as empowerment highlighting what all fancy features you get compared to the old dull way so you replace the stable system you have in place for a new one.
Awesome post 👍 People need to know this so they can atleast start to see the patterns and take action.
Yupp, at the end of the day all we can do is raise awareness of such topics and themes that are blatantly present in our economy these days.
People need to learn to make better choices for themselves, and be fully aware of their decisions. If they like buying or using something because they want to, sure - all good with that. But falling for 'hook' traps in products is way too common. And perhaps shows how there is such a lack of 'self-actualization' when it comes to the average person.
And calling it addiction isn't a far fetched theory anymore, there are literally organizations that are helping people get rid of their digital addictions. And with rise of AI/LLM and people substituting it for human connection - I reckon we will see even more 'addiction' in the tech industry specifically.
Happy you enjoyed the post! Would appreciate a sub and restack - more folks need to read about this :)
One IT expert told me he'll only use Windows 7! Planned obsolescence is something I avoid by stopping all and every use of that manufacturer as it affects the item in use. So, 2026 is when I will probably stop all use of any computer, etc. And I will purchase a non digital 'phone' if they're still around. My 'digital' items are slowly being disconnected from the Internet as the tech guys play with truth which, to me, is immutable. Are we being forced back into real 'dark ages'?
And honestly - with all the new tech rolling out, it does feels less like innovation and more like planned obsolescence.
I also wonder if we’re heading back into some kind of “dark ages.” and honestly I dont think there is a straight answer to that, sometimes it feels like that, sometimes it doesn't.
Is anything even real, anymore? Maybe it is, Maybe it isn't.
Explain the phases of "Customer Retention" and "Repeat Sales" to a psychologist and I'm very sure they'll call it the addiction cycle.
Empowering people to remain independent, to be able to do something and detach from the economy to support a self sustainable lifestyle is harmful for business as it means revenue source lost. Keeping them coming back to you for replacements means the revenue keeps getting generated. And it goes even bigger, this puts a pressure to constantly spend, hence to constantly earn and so to constantly be employed so the engine keeps running.
So they'll always sell enslavement as empowerment highlighting what all fancy features you get compared to the old dull way so you replace the stable system you have in place for a new one.
Awesome post 👍 People need to know this so they can atleast start to see the patterns and take action.
Yupp, at the end of the day all we can do is raise awareness of such topics and themes that are blatantly present in our economy these days.
People need to learn to make better choices for themselves, and be fully aware of their decisions. If they like buying or using something because they want to, sure - all good with that. But falling for 'hook' traps in products is way too common. And perhaps shows how there is such a lack of 'self-actualization' when it comes to the average person.
And calling it addiction isn't a far fetched theory anymore, there are literally organizations that are helping people get rid of their digital addictions. And with rise of AI/LLM and people substituting it for human connection - I reckon we will see even more 'addiction' in the tech industry specifically.
Happy you enjoyed the post! Would appreciate a sub and restack - more folks need to read about this :)
This post was effin eyeopeningggg!!!
Glad it helped you : )
One IT expert told me he'll only use Windows 7! Planned obsolescence is something I avoid by stopping all and every use of that manufacturer as it affects the item in use. So, 2026 is when I will probably stop all use of any computer, etc. And I will purchase a non digital 'phone' if they're still around. My 'digital' items are slowly being disconnected from the Internet as the tech guys play with truth which, to me, is immutable. Are we being forced back into real 'dark ages'?
I can relate to what you’re feeling.
And honestly - with all the new tech rolling out, it does feels less like innovation and more like planned obsolescence.
I also wonder if we’re heading back into some kind of “dark ages.” and honestly I dont think there is a straight answer to that, sometimes it feels like that, sometimes it doesn't.
Is anything even real, anymore? Maybe it is, Maybe it isn't.