Planned Obsolescence: A Scam Built Into the System

 In a world already strained by inflation, debt, and economic instability, one of the biggest scams quietly draining people’s wallets is planned obsolescence. It’s the deliberate design of products to fail or become obsolete after a certain time, forcing people to replace them and keeping money flowing into the system.

Most people have been conditioned to think it’s “normal” that their phone slows down after two years, their washing machine breaks just after the warranty expires, or their laptop battery can’t be replaced. But this isn’t normal it’s corruption baked into the economy.

A Brief History of Planned Obsolescence

One of the earliest examples of planned obsolescence goes back to the lightbulb cartel in the early 20th century. Companies like General Electric, Philips, and Osram secretly agreed to limit the lifespan of lightbulbs to around 1,000 hours. Yet the Centennial Light in California, a bulb installed in 1901, is still glowing after more than 120 years. If technology was capable of lasting that long over a century ago, imagine what today’s products could do if designed to last.

Instead, corporations realized there was more profit in forcing people to keep buying replacements. This mindset spread across industries cars, electronics, fashion, and even appliances.

How It Hurts People

1. Financial Drain – Constantly replacing products traps people in a cycle of spending, even when they can’t afford it. Inflation only makes this worse.

2. Psychological Impact – People are gaslit into believing it’s their fault when products fail (“you didn’t take care of it,” “you need the latest model”). This fuels frustration and helplessness.

3. Environmental Damage – Millions of tons of waste pile up every year because products aren’t designed to last or be repaired.

4. Systemic Corruption – Governments rarely step in because corporations profit heavily from this cycle. Lobbying ensures consumer protections stay weak.

Why It’s Corrupt

Planned obsolescence ties directly back to the corrupt system we live in:

• Profit over people: Companies profit while people struggle with endless replacement costs.

• Inflation cover-up: Even if wages don’t rise, you’re forced to spend more because products keep breaking.

• Consumer disempowerment: Repair rights are restricted, with companies blocking independent repair shops or making replacement parts scarce.

This isn’t just bad business practice — it’s systemic exploitation disguised as “innovation.”

Fighting Back

People once fought against planned obsolescence, and they can again:

• Right-to-repair movements are gaining traction, forcing some companies to allow basic repairs.

• Supporting repair culture – Choosing to fix instead of replace, and supporting businesses that encourage sustainability.

• Raising awareness – Understanding that this “normal” consumer cycle is a scam makes it harder for corporations to hide behind marketing.

Conclusion

Planned obsolescence is more than just an annoyance — it’s a symbol of systemic corruption that bleeds people dry. In tough times, when money is scarce and inflation is high, people shouldn’t be forced into endless replacement cycles. Products can be built to last. They always could.

If society doesn’t push back, the cycle of waste and financial drain will continue. But if people demand durability, transparency, and fairness, then maybe we can shift the system from one built on exploitation to one built on longevity.