Creating iPhone Dreams
Author Jennifer Ellen Good examines the conflicting realities of our digital age in her article
titled "Creating iPhone Dreams: Annihilating E-waste Nightmares.". In this article, electronic
devices, particularly the iPhone, are explored, as well as the alarming environmental impact of
electronic waste (e-waste). According to the author, excessive consumption and disposal of
electronic items, particularly mobile phones, has resulted in the rapid growth of e-waste. Media
coverage of the issue has also been limited. As a result, e-waste has become one of the fastest-
growing elements of solid waste in recent years.
As a result of the manufacture and use of electronic devices, significant amounts of fossil fuels,
substances, fluids, and precious metals, energy, and raw materials are consumed, resulting in
severe environmental consequences. The UNEP estimates that a mobile phone emits 60
kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) and generates 40 million tons of waste every
year. Additionally, it is predicted that developing countries will produce more e-waste by 2017
than developed countries. Considering the urgency of this issue, Good asserts that educating
the public about e-waste and how it impacts the environment is a necessity.
In addition, the article discusses the issue of symbolic annihilation in media coverage. The
author states that many people are unaware of the enormity of the e-waste problem. The lack
of awareness is partly as a result of the media's focus on mobile phones and their popularity
and not on the amount of waste created by them. In news stories and cultural discourse, the
iPhone receives disproportionate attention, while electronic waste receives much less. Due to
this disparity, there continues to be insufficient awareness and comprehension of the increasing
e-waste crisis globally. According to the article, to mitigate the negative effects of digital
technology on the environment, it is vital to increase awareness and take measures to moderate
these effects.
