From college textbooks to scam call centers, we’ve all run into industries that have somehow persisted despite the majority of people hating them. For one reason or another, these institutions are still alive and kicking, to the dismay of most people.
Recently, internet users shared what sort of businesses they thought should really not still be a thing. Some users also specified industry practices that really need to change. After all, fast fashion is terrible, but we still need clothing! We’ve gathered some of the most interesting and relevant examples, but be sure to add your ideas in the comments! And upvote the ones you absolutely agree with as well.
Read More: “Everything As A Subscription”: People List 35 Industries They Want To See Disappear In 10 Years
#1
Puppy/kitten farms.
Image credits: LoveStoryGaming
#2
Child beauty pageants- are they still going? That.
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#3
Social media influencing.
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#4
Mega churches.
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#5
Conversion therapy.
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#6
For profit health insurance.
Image credits: V48runner
#7
Mommy/Family vloggers. They’re sinister… a podcast I listened to did a 7* episode deep dive and it was horrifying. There needs to be laws to protect these exploited children and in 10-20 years we’re going to see a LOT of these kids telling their horror stories and suing their parents.
EDIT TO ADD: The podcast is called Some Place Under Neith. It’s episodes 56 – 62.
Image credits: Kristaboo14
#8
Call Scammers that steal from the elderly.
Image credits: RalphGuevara
#9
Everything to do with planned obsolescence.
Massive industry, disproportionately responsible for obscene levels of environmental damage.
Image credits: Dirty-Soul
#10
24 hour propaganda media outlets masquerading as “news”.
Image credits: Nati2de
#11
MLMs/Pyramid schemes
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#12
Factory animal farming. I’m not a hippie but I love and respect animals. If you wouldn’t allow it to happen to your pet don’t pay big business to do it to your food.
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#13
Fast fashion.
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#14
Everything as a subscription. As a tech worker I understand why this is so popular but god do I hate it
Edit: Some subscriptions can genuinely offer amazing value to consumers. My problem is the mass adoption of subscription on products and services that have no business being a subscription. Those that exist solely so companies can make more money off of you. Not everything should be a subscription
Image credits: iHazRice
#15
Single-use plastics: Some people hope that the production and use of single-use plastics, which contribute to plastic pollution, will become a thing of the past as alternatives are developed and adopted.
Image credits: LearnToAsk
#16
Televangelism
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#17
For profit prisons.
#18
Animal testing: Some people hope that the practice of using animals for scientific testing and research will become obsolete, as more ethical and effective alternatives become available.
Image credits: LearnToAsk
#19
Plastic. A Scrouge on our planet
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#20
Telemarketers.
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#21
lobbying
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#22
Whaling.
#23
The war industry.
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#24
Tobacco industry: Many people hope that smoking will become less common, and eventually eliminated, due to the health risks associated with tobacco use.
Image credits: LearnToAsk
#25
Payday loans, it should be illegal to entrap someone in a cycle of debt that they cannot get out of. If you already can’t afford to wait for a paycheck, then having to make payments against it, is inherently going to be a cyclical arrangement, in which a loan is paid off and then immediately retaken to cover expenses. Sure, there could be one-off instances, but that seems like it would be a rarity.
#26
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Look them up.
They’re basically bloodsucking middlemen that sit between hospitals and health insurers. Supposedly created to control prescription drug costs and manage formularies, but they actually drive prices up. One of the many terrible causes of high medical costs in the states.
Image credits: tc273
#27
Zoos where they keep animals in small spaces and people come and stare at them all day long.
#28
Gambling. Massive issue in Ireland and the UK, betting shops everywhere, i’m sure it’s the same in other countries, destroys lives. Can’t go anywhere or watch any sport without having it shoved down your throat.
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