people getting "owned" by tech they boughta subscript hellhttps://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/monster-of-2025-endless-subscriptions/"Welcome to the age of subscription captivity, where an increasing share of the things you pay for actually own you."What vexes me are the companies that sell physical products for a hefty, upfront fee and subsequently demand more money to keep using items already in your possession. This encompasses those glorified alarm clocks, but also: computer printers, wearable wellness devices, and some features on pricey new cars.Subscription-based business models are great for businesses because they amount to consistent revenue streams. They're often bad for consumers for the same reason: You have to pay companies, consistently. We're effectively being $5 per month-ed (or more) to death, and it's only going to get worse. Industry research suggests the average customer spent $330 per month on subscriptions in 2023. In 2024, the global subscription market was an estimated $492 billion. By 2033, that figure is expected to triple.Companies would argue these models benefit consumers, not just their bottom lines. >For example, HP's Instant Ink program suggests you will never again find your device out of ink when you need it most. The printer apparently knows when it's running low, spurring automatic deliveries of ink to your home for $7.99 per month if you select the company-recommended plan. But if you cancel the subscription, the printer will literally hold hostage the half-full cartridges already sitting in your printer. The ransom to use it? Re-enroll... The company has added firmware to its technology that deliberately blocks cheaper, off-brand cartridges from working at all...
>>524002358The generations who know the meaning of ownership ... have to die out.After that everything will be alright because the younger people will not miss what they have never experienced.For them this is the normal.
>>524002358
>>524002358>the AVERAGE consoooomer spend $330 a month>33Its all so tiresomeIs my car getting a gas subscription too every fillup? The fuck is this retarded shit, whos that retardedI understand the basic bitch zoomette netflix and spotify, the fuck else do these retards use once every 6 months and pay premium for? Fortnite bucks? I dont get it, hardly anyone plays mmorpgs etc
