Novelty

The term novelty pertains to the quest of newness, the quality or state of newness. It also refers to the quality or appeal of being new. 

In our daily lives it is widely seen how people go on to fulfill the quest of novelty in purchasing material items such as the latest phones, latest designer items which include clothes, shoes, bags, watches, cars, gadgets and so on. This happens not as a result of need but to fit into the societal class where newness is considered to bring respect and self-deceiving prestige. 

Social engineering is widely utilized by the manufacturers of this items. This is evident in the employment of creative minds which channel the thoughts of individuals by releasing new models of items that does not necessarily improve its functionality neither its efficiency but just seeks to get the attention of customers by tweaking mostly its outer design, changing its shape, adding a few more colours or basically changing the previous colours.

This in fact is a big problem in the society leading a lot of youths into financial problems where some break the bank to purchase these items which they do not need to fulfill the identity of newness.

A popular Nigerian artist once told of how he’s spent 7 million naira on purchasing of newly released apple products in the space of five years. He then went on to say he’s not purchasing a new product in the next coming years seeing he had wasted a lot of money on the products. This again is just one of the few examples of novelty in the society.

Banks are getting more profits in the area of very high interest attached to the loans people take to purchase these items. These organizations benefit more from this act of novelty seen among people. Seeing how terrible the effects of novelty are on the human society it is imperative to sensitive teenagers, youths and the society at large about this great danger ensuring a better society where things are bought based on needs and not most necessarily wants.

Again this article is not to defame the very rich ones who could afford to purchase this items and still be financially stable. It is only to educate us on this danger and to warn people who are not financially capable on not falling into this problem influenced mainly by societal pressures.

Olaoluwa Olaitan

laolumi27@gmail.com