It is often argued that, nowadays, the trend of abandoning old things is decreasing and buying new ones is increasing. There are several reasons why people choose to buy new things, particularly consumerism and designs becoming outdated. In my opinion, this is a negative development, although buying new ones can be financially challenging.
One of the main reasons for throwing away old things is consumerist behavior. Nowadays, technology is developing rapidly, and companies constantly launch new products. People are encouraged to believe that newer products or new technologies are better, safer, and more favorable. In addition, appearance or design is another factor. When products are designed to become outdated, it is difficult and expensive to repair them. Buying a new thing can seem easier and cheaper than repairing the old one. For example, people may replace smartphones even when their old phones still work because newer models have better cameras or features, or replacing or repairing them costs almost as much as buying a new model. This is a big issue that people have to be concerned about.
I believe that a preference for buying new things is generally a negative development. Firstly, buying new things causes environmental damage. Increased production of products can lead to more discarded products, resulting in more waste. Electronic waste can be harmful to the environment because rapid replacement requires raw materials and energy. This process can increase pollution and carbon emissions. Secondly, this behavior can lead to financial problems; sometimes social media can create pressure to own the newest product, and this attraction can activate people’s preferences, encouraging unnecessary consumption. Households may have less money for essential needs or savings. However, buying new products can encourage technological innovation, and newer products may be safer and more convenient. These benefits are outweighed by excessive consumption and environmental problems. In conclusion, people may choose to buy newer products rather than keep old things due to consumerism and the design of newer products. Although buying new things can encourage technological advancement, I believe that it is overall a negative development.