15 Successful Inventions That Left the World Worse Off
Daniel Bonfiglio
Published
04/02/2025
in
wow
What defines a successful invention?
Some might say a good invention solves a problem, while for others the goal is just making money.
I believe a good invention leaves the world a better place, instead of trading one problem for another. By that metric these 15 creations are rubbish inventions. But boy were they successful.
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1. Plastic
Perhaps the most useful material in existence, it is also responsible for some serious pollution. -
2. Modern Advertising
Modern advertising completely revolutionized the marketing world and boy does it stink. -
3. Corn Syrup
Perhaps the most transformative ingredient in modern food, it’s also awful for you. -
4. Tasers
Allegedly created to reduce the use of deadly firearms for law enforcement, tasers instead increased the likeliness of using force altogether, while still killing many victims. -
5. Leaded Gasoline
Steve SnodgrassAlthough it improved car performance, leaded gasoline stunted intelligence, and indirectly killed millions. -
6. Social Media
Social media is an incredible tool to keep the world connected. It’s also a major player in the modern loneliness epidemic. -
7. Asbestos
While great for insulation, asbestos destroys the lungs of anyone who breathes too much of it in. -
8. Clickbait
You won’t BELIEVE the effect clickbait has had on content creation. Keep scrolling to see the TOP FIVE reasons why every platform is using more and more clickbait. -
9. Opioid Painkillers
While effective for pain relief, these addictive pills fueled the opioid epidemic. -
10. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
Originally used in refrigeration, these chemicals also decimated the ozone layer. -
11. Short Form Content
There’s nothing better than a good TikTok, (or Vine, remember that?) But short content wrecked the modern attention span. -
12. Nuclear Weapons
The inventor of the machine gun believed its destructive power could dissuade war. The same is often said of nuclear weapons. I’m not so sure. -
13. DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane)
Introduced in World War II, DDT proved to be an effective insecticide, and was used to help farmers and combat the spread of diseases like malaria. However, the chemical proved toxic to humans and the environment as well. -
14. E-Cigarettes and Zyns
Designed (in theory) to wean people off of traditional cigarettes, they instead hooked an entire younger generation on nicotine products. -
15. Sports Analytics
While revolutionizing how multiple games are played, many fans feel that the “magic” is lost.
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Plastic
Perhaps the most useful material in existence, it is also responsible for some serious pollution.
Perhaps the most useful material in existence, it is also responsible for some serious pollution.
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