First World problem
First World problem is an informal term for the issues in First World nations that are complained about in response to the perceived absence of more pressing concerns. The phrase was added to the Oxford Dictionary Online in November 2012, and to the Macquarie Dictionary Online in December 2012. It is a subset of the fallacy of relative privation.
The term "First World problem" first appeared in 1979 in G. K. Payne's work Built Environment, but gained recognition as an Internet meme beginning in 2005, particularly on social networking sites like Twitter. The term is used to minimize complaints about trivial issues by shaming the complainer, or as good-humored self-deprecation. UNICEF NZ conducted a survey of First World problems in New Zealand, finding slow web access to be the most common. Parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic's song, "First World Problems," was on his 2014 album, Mandatory Fun.Examples
Things that have been cited as being "First World problems" include:
- Slow Internet access
- Not being able to find items in a shop
- Bad-tasting fruit
- Getting a bad haircut
- Television remote not working
- Poor mobile-phone coverage
- Phone battery dying
- Misplacing wireless AirPods. Apple Inc. attempted to alleviate this problem by introducing a "Find My AirPods" application in 2017.
