Phones aren't necessarily a need but the different phone companies have made and advertised their products as if they are essential. As well as the different games and social media, it's all specifically developed for people to get addicted so they can keep buying their products. Also, the status that comes with having the newly released phones makes people want to keep having them right when they're released. So if a company releases a new phone every six months some people will buy a new phone every six months which is a big waste but benefits the company.

All the companies only think of the sales is going to make and not about the environment and the addiction problems, so as long as they are making money they will advertise and do whatever they can to sell their phones.