We live in a world built upon consumerism, where convenience is at the heart of everything we do. We have no time for patience and tend rely on technology to manage our lives. Due to increased market saturation, and greater affordability, there are some sectors within the tech industry that seem to have got a little out-of-control…
Video Streaming
There's HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon and plenty of others (around 47 in total), all producing exclusive content. We pay about $10-$20 per month for each of them, and for some reason, think we're getting a good deal! Streaming used to be a cheaper alternative to a cable package, but this has reversed. Nowadays, if we want access to all of the best material we need multiple different accounts, which not only costs even more than cable when combined, but is also far less functional.
We are currently in a golden age of television, with so much quality, high-budget productions hitting the gogglebox it's damn-near impossible to keep up. But what's truly frustrating is the rotary nature of the business. We often have to sign up to a specific provider, just to get access to a specific show. We then have no choice but the binge watch it throughout the month, and then remember to unsubscribe before moving on to the next provider… not convenient at all!
Smartphones
The iPhone is still the reigning champion in the smartphone department, but it's far from the only offering on the market. We also have Samsung, Sony, Windows, Huawei, Blackberry and Motorola, among others. And as of last month, even the classic Nokia 3310 (remember that phone with Snake from the olden days?)
But devices aside, at the heart of the smartphone business is the app stores. There are only two major contenders to choose from: Google Play and the Apple Store. Both of which contain over two million apps. Unfortunately, despite producing great phones, the Windows Store and Blackberry World pale in comparison… but once again, our excessive consumerism has left us spoilt for choice.
Social Media
Facebook is still the market leader in the social networking domain; however, Twitter and Instagram are also major contenders. Being on one network without the other can leave gaping holes in our Internet social lives, so we tend to sign up to all of them. Instagram for pics and videos, Facebook for keeping up-to-date with close friends, and Twitter for blurting out random thoughts to the world.
But why do we have so many social networks in the first place if we end up just linking them all together anyway? When it comes to business, this is something I can understand. After all, companies often buy Instagram likes, advertise on Twitter, and run Facebook ads simultaneously. However, on a social level, where we only communicate with friends and family, it seems a little pointless.
Consumerism is like a drug. And while we all love to have cool things, sometimes life is better enjoyed by intentionally rejecting the trends – I know that's difficult! Plus, lest not forget, in the above industries, excessive consumption can be wasteful, not only for the environment (smart phones), but also for time (social media) and money (streaming)… perhaps now it's time for us all to change the way we think about technology?