Conflict minerals: The dark side of your smartphone

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Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority


Do you know the true cost of your new smartphone? The price may have been reason enough to give you pause before buying, but we’re talking about ethical considerations. There’s a good chance there are conflict minerals in your phone, the extraction of which often comes at a human and environmental cost. If you were as aware of this as you were of the sticker price, it would give you more food for thought when considering whether you need to upgrade your handset each year.

Conflict minerals are a complicated issue with a dark history. Here’s a very brief overview of the problematic nature of these resources.




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