Commodification of the Smartphone

The process by which the smartphone—and every interaction with it—is turned into a tradable asset. Your location becomes data sold to advertisers; your scrolls become training for algorithms; your notifications become triggers for purchases. Even your attention, your sleep patterns, and your social graph are packaged as commodities. The commodification of the smartphone transforms a personal device into a corporate sensor array.

Example: “She thought she owned her phone, but every tap was being auctioned—the commodification of the smartphone had made her the product.”

Elitism of the Smartphone

A social hierarchy based on smartphone model, age, and capabilities. Those with the latest flagship phones access faster apps, better cameras, and exclusive features; those with older or cheaper models face lag, incompatibility, and exclusion from certain services. The elitism of the smartphone creates digital class distinctions, where the ability to participate fully depends on owning the right device.

Example: “His two‑year‑old phone couldn’t run the new AR app—elitism of the smartphone, where planned obsolescence becomes a barrier to social inclusion.”

Commodification of the Smartphone by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 21, 2026