I think the majority of Americans today either own airpods or have been tempted to buy airpods at some point since their release in late 2016. While they were initially ridiculed for their frivolity, eventually they became a status symbol. If you walk around campus today you’d be hard pressed to not run into someone using airpods within a minute. Stark and white, they stand out, intended to be noticed. They’re not something functional, they are an adornment. Furthermore, Apple redesigned their phones and took away the audio jack, to encourage people to buy the new wireless earbuds they began shilling. All of these for a product that is an ecological Hindenburg.
Something I did not know until I began researching this topic is that airpods only have an 18 month life-span. After those 18 months, the lithium-ion batteries lose their ability to recharge. Afterwards the airpods need to be recharged more frequently until they stop working all together. 159$ for only 18 guaranteed months.
It gets worse though, as airpods are a nightmare to get rid of. The lithium-ion batteries are glued to the white plastic shells, and are nigh impossible to remove from the shells. The process is very expensive and has a low success rate. This adds to the tragedy as lithium is a relatively rare element, and it is being squandered. Furthermore, airpods can’t be thrown out. Because lithium-ion batteries are incredibly flammable, they cannot be put in garbage dumps, because the garbage compactors will cause them to light. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, called airpods “evil”. This technology was designed to work for 18 months, die, and then rot in your cupboard forever. Airpods are the peak of irresponsible design, but we took them in with open arms.
Sources:
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neaz3d/airpods-are-a-tragedy