this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2023
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109
I'm worried that in the future we will be forced to use smartphones just like in China (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago by ULTIMATEDEAD@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.world
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In China, you can't exist without a smartphone, because for all existential things you have to do (paying bills, buying tickets etc.) , you are forced to use the almighty wechat app. Smartphones are a tool to manipulate and to spy on the population. It is a tool utilized by the ruling class, to control the masses. I hate the future and I hate "progress".

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[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I honestly think the US is at that point. I need a phone to clock in, you can't find price checkers anymore, physically paying bills just doesn't happen anymore, checks are becoming obsolete. Stores are downsizing in favor of online markets, banks are closing lobbies in favor of digital. We love in a digital world and while it's technically possible without it still, very difficult to do so.

[–] Hankaaron@yall.theatl.social 2 points 1 year ago

My grandmother doesn’t have a cell phone or computer and gets around just fine. The US definitely accommodates people without those abilities or who have disabilities. Yes it’s way slower and inconvenient but always possible

[–] Korkki@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

yeah and the problem here would be that it all would happen in one app? Seriously? It would only be a problem if google or Microsoft owned and controlled it and ran it rampantly for their own profit, not if it's handled as a public utility as such things should. That's why WeChat-like apps are progress and the future.

[–] meekah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, centralized applications should never be the future. Of course technology that connects us is the future. But I'd prefer to see a federated system for that, similar to lemmy

[–] Korkki@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In some applications centralisation is the only feasible solution. Decentralisation and cynical fear of centralisation is never the excuse to create and accept shit.

[–] meekah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

We live in the age of information. Data is power. So centralization of data is centralization of power. I prefer the power to be distributed a bit more equally than it is nowadays.

I agree that sometimes centralization is the only feasible solution. But those cases should be kept to a minimum, regulated and closely monitored