This community collects stories, cases and situations where people without smartphones are excluded from society.
Somewhat related:
You basically can't study in a College or a University in Canada if you dont have a cell phone or refuse to install Microsoft crap on it. What a stupid world.
I dunno. I don't have a smart phone, and I suppose I'm "missing out" on some of those deals, but I ain't worried about it. I don't want to be advertised at and tracked everywhere, but doing without is not a hardship. For the most part, the places that have apps and smartphone-only discounts and membership advantages and all are exactly the kind of places I don't want to go anyway.
I walk around with my head up, instead of scrolling through whatever y'all are scrolling through all the time. Got me a laptop at home, and a debit card and fifty bucks in my wallet. No complaints.
The point is also in which direction do you think this will move? More app dependency or less? There'll be a point in time where cash won't be allowed and payments are by QR code bank transfer. Some parts of the world have places that completely excluded cash transactions. Once people can't buy basic goods without an app it'll be too late to start caring about app-led population exclusion.
I hope societies don't go cashless. Power outages, website crashes and glitches, not to mention other things.
I'm with you on that. However, some places in Asia are moving that way. Signs on shops with cashless payment only. Only a matter of time before it moves to Europe.
https://www.seoulz.com/moving-towards-a-cashless-society-in-south-korea/