• berrytopylus [she/her,they/them]@hexbear.net
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    10 months ago

    The government literally had/has a program to give out cheap smart phones, tablets and laptops to poor people during Covid.

    The idea of this technology being inaccessible to those in poverty is like 20 years out of date.

    • BelieveRevolt [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      10 months ago

      It’s so funny when you see someone complain about poor people having smartphones. Imagine being so out of touch that you think the standard is still a candybar dumbphone and touch screen smartphones are some kind of luxury. I guess there’s a few companies making those phones, but they cost about the same as a cheap smartphone.

      • RyanGosling [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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        10 months ago

        Quality, affordable smartphones do exist with almost all the luxury features of an iPhone. Unfortunately the US bans them because they’re mad China beat them to the punch despite being sanctioned

      • There are two types of dumb phones: burners you can buy at Walmart for $20 and “utility phones” for old people who can’t see well and young people who think it’s the answer to their dopamine regulation disorder. Still cheap but will get advertised more for specific features. Easy to read screens, extremely difficult to break (for swimmers or hikers). Stuff like that. They’re very purpose built and are not marketed as daily driver phones.

    • ProxyTheAwesome [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      10 months ago

      Even if there wasn’t a program for it, having a phone is not optional in 2023. It is required. You have to have reliable access to email and phone in order to apply for jobs, apply for government benefits, have a social circle, etc.