this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2025
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Try being in one of the many countries where whatsapp is the only path to get service from companies (banks, utilities, etc).
Even better, try living a modern life as a tourist abroad without a phone number. You can't get transportation, even public (and there is no physical payment option), you can't order delivery, you can't pay with credit cards online because you need to auth with sms. Everything requires an account and everything requires sms.
It's not just about privacy of your personal texts. People are putting entire societies in the hands of tech/telecom and demanding we identify through unsecure methods. Having a smartphone with a phone number and whatever is the main local app is now mandatory. Single point of failure everywhere.
Exactly. And may I add to your point the privatization of public communication by social media ( especially Instagram ). It's becoming very hard to find information about your city public action without an account on Instagram; now to be a citizen is required to have an "social media id".
Also, business are becoming hostages of Instagram: their only way to communicate with the customers is through this mediation. I think is very very important to platforms like pixelfed to become more popular and indeed brake these people free.
The last few Amber alerts I've gotten required an app Formerly known as Twitter account to get any additional details...