Not to be over-dramatic, but by the year 2025 you probably won’t want to live on this planet anymore because – CHOCOLATE IS RUNNING OUT.
No, this is not a drill people. Demand is going to outstrip supply.
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And, in the same way we once had to come to terms with the fact that VHS was obsolete, within 10 years we’ll be dealing with a whole new way of living where things we know today are simply just no longer around.
So, if you’re a news anchor, newspaper publisher or own a DVD store, you’ve been put on notice and should really start looking into future alternatives. Because just like Tape World (below) the following things will one day be just a teaching moment viewed behind glass at a museum.
1. Chocolate.
According to experts, a combination of overconsumption and poor weather/working conditions (ie child labour) in West Africa (where over 70 per cent of cocoa is produced) means we're looking down the barrel of a worldwide chocolate shortage. I would suggest we all start doomsday prepping a back-supply in our garages, but that doesn't exactly fly if you're like me and possess all the willpower of a hyperactive seven-year-old.
2. Prosecco.
That's right, according to the Telegraph, we are drinking prosecco faster than the winemakers can grow the Glera grape (that's the one used for making prosecco). As a result, we are at risk of running out, especially if the price is kept as reasonable as it is. The good news is that we have so many fabulous alternatives here in Australia so now is a good a time as any to start to support our local bubbly wine industry.
3. Cursive Writing.
Cursive writing or 'running writing' as it is sometimes called, has already been scrapped in Finland and replaced with lessons in typing. It can't be too long until Australia follows suit. How often do people use cursive writing anyway? Some experts believe, however, it should still be taught and is a valuable talent that is necessary to develop a signature.
4. Helium.
Birthday parties just aren't going to be the same with flaccid balloons — that's the grim picture of the world we're facing by 2025. According to The Independent the earth's helium stores are rapidly depleting because of a 1996 US law rendering the gas too cheap to recycle. As it turns out, helium isn't just good for sucking through a balloon for comic relief, it is an important element that keeps MRI scanners cool and helps power fibre optics and LCD screens.
Watch the video below of Morgan Freeman speaking on Helium. Post continues after video.
5. Free-to-air TV.
Ten years might be being generous. Free-to-air TV is already hurting since the introduction of streaming services such as Netflix, Stan and Presto. The thing is, people don't want to have to wait. We binge watch TV series, and no longer have the patience to wait around for the next weekly instalment. So thanks free-to-air TV for being you know, free, but unless you change your ways dramatically to cater to your viewers, we'll be tuning out forever.
And sooner rather than later.
6. The Yellow and White pages.
The only thing I've used a phone book in the last three years has been as a door stop. Once it was my only source to book holidays, call a doctor or find a restaurant. Now it's redundant and I can't imagine anyone will pay to advertise with these guys in print anymore.
7. Photo processing shops.
Well, let's face it, these are almost extinct and no doubt in 10 years time we will all have printers in our homes that do a great job. Or, as is increasingly the trend, we won't even print out our pictures, instead keeping 'digital photo albums'. It's a little depressing but on the upside, makes it one less thing you have to save when the house is burning down.
8. Newspapers (and print magazines).
I think this infographic tells you everything you need to know. Unrelated: if you work in newspapers, you might want to developw a new set of skills, starting with digital. The Future Explanation website predicts newspapers will become insignificant in their current form by 2022 in Australia. The writing is on the wall.
9. Video/DVD stores.
While most of us have been aware of this for some time, there are still a number of DVD stores still open. Given most of us don;t even bothering to replace our DVD players when they break anymore, it makes no sense. We either have movies stored on memory sticks or we stream or other people (not me, definitely not me, *cough*) illegally download. I for one will miss the Friday night tradition that was the pilgrimage to Blockbuster.
I won't miss the $95 late fees.
10. Shopping centres as we know them.
Online shopping is the future. I know you don't want to believe that but eventually, as the price of commercial rent increases and people can search for what they need in 2.5 seconds instead of 2.5 hours, they will start to shop online more often. Bye bye Westfield, thanks for the good times.
11. Books.
It pains me to even think about this and I really hope I'm wrong, but when you can download just about any book you can think of to your device of choice without even leaving your bed, at roughly 1/3 of the price it costs for a physical copy, it stands to reason this is the way we are heading. I hope to never give into technology but know I'm swimming against a very strong tide.
12. The 6pm news.
Who waits until 6pm to know what's going on in the world? Perhaps our great grandparents? We know about the news the moment it is happening thanks to Twitter and Facebook. The 6pm news bulletin is almost redundant - and even if it is around in some kind of format in 2025, it won't look like it does now.
13. Sumatran orangutans
According to the Orangutan Conservancy, if the loss of orangutans continues at the current rate (20,000 per decade), they are expected to be extinct in the wild in less than 25 years. With only 40,000 believed to remaining in Borneo and Sumatra in 2015, this is a truly frightening prediction.
As forest dwelling primates, orangutans are entirely dependent on the forest for their survival. Indonesia and Malaysia have some of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, and logging, both legal and illegal, has seen wild populations decimated. Forest conversion for pulp and paper and palm oil plantations now pose an even bigger threat, and it is believed up to 1000 orangutans are also killed every year, either for the pet trade, for consumption or as agricultural pests. This is one we need to stop happening, starting today!
14. The fountain pen.
'The pen is mightier than the sword' might need to be changed to 'The handheld device/laptop/tablet is mightier than the sword' because it is predicted the fountain pen will be extinct within a decade. Which is sad, really, considering how romantic love letters are when penned by hand, in ink. Sigh.
15. The gender pay gap.
Just kidding. But we do live in hope.
What do you think we will no longer see around in 10 years time? We'd love to hear your thoughts below.
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