Luuri

Addressing major challenges with a simple and effective solution,

ancient phones.

Problem 1: Mental Health

The prevalence of social media, particularly among younger demographics, has led to an "always-on" culture with proven negative effects on mental health. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, and anxiety (RSPH, 2017). Rates of depression and anxiety have surged by 70% in the past quarter-century, largely due to this constant connectivity (APA, 2017). The social media-fuelled phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is associated with lower life satisfaction (Przybylski et al., 2013), while excessive smartphone usage can lead to addiction-like behaviours with personal, social, and professional repercussions (Elhai et al., 2017).

Problem 2: Global Warming

The manufacturing of new smartphones has a significant environmental footprint. It not only contributes to electronic waste (e-waste), but also involves resource-intensive processes and hazardous materials, leading to environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. The Global E-waste Monitor reports that in 2020 alone, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste was generated worldwide, with only 17.4% being collected and recycled.

Furthermore, the extraction of rare-earth minerals required for these devices often leads to deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. A study published in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology" indicates that manufacturing a single smartphone requires 13 tons of water and creates 16 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions (Yoshida et al., 2019).

Problem 3: Labour Abuse

The production of modern smartphones often involves complex supply chains that span multiple countries, many of which are in developing regions. Reports from various human rights organizations highlight significant concerns about inhumane working conditions and unfair labor practices in these regions. Workers are often subjected to long hours, unsafe environments, and low wages.

Moreover, there is a stark contrast between the conditions and compensation of these workers and those of engineers in early 2000s phone companies. For instance, during the heyday of companies like Nokia, engineers were well compensated and worked in conditions that met high standards for safety and labor rights.

Yet today, the workers who assemble smartphones are often paid minimal wages that do not reflect the value of their labor or the profits made by smartphone companies. For example, a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute highlighted cases of forced labor in factories supplying to major tech companies (ASPI, 2020).