It seems like a week doesn't go by when somebody doesn't pressure me to install some kind of app on one of my devices.
Why am I so resistant?
There was a young man in a nearby community who was interested in a certain young lady. As happens in many cases, the young lady was a couple of grades behind him in high school.
They flirted via texts and the young man was pressuring her to show him some of her "assets". It is very likely that the young man's buddies were coaching him.
Eventually, the young lady sent the young man a selfie after he promised to NEVER share it with anybody else. It was a frontal nude from her naval up. Her face was clearly visible (which she considered her best asset).
What are the odds that the young man did not share that picture with at least one of his friends?
If you guessed "Zero" you would be correct.
The young man's dad was a coach and word floated back to him about his son's adventure(s). He told his son to delete the image but didn't report to "upper management" and suspend his son from the team.
Word continued to spread. The coach's actions were not 100% in compliance with the league and the school district's policies on images involving minors. In due time, word eventually made its way to the highest levels. He was terminated from his coaching duties and any future employment in the school district.
(Note: some minor details were omitted or modified in this story)
Who knows what evils lurk within the hearts of men?
That 17 year-old-boy is inside of every human. In my simple-minded world-view, the installation of every additional App is the equivalent of that 14 year-old girl texting her frontal-nude to her boyfriend with the reminder "Don't share it with anybody else".
Those Apps always ask if they can access information in your smartphone and/or computer and to interface with other devices sharing the WIFI. Not giving them permission is the same as the boy promising to never share the picture. Yeah, right. How does that STOP them?
The girl was naive and didn't know any better. I don't have that excuse.
I am no fan of the "app" culture either.
ReplyDeleteI recently had to change my home/auto insurance carrier after better than 25 years with my old company.
The new company is tecno-crazy and wants everything I do with them done electronically.
One of their new items is downloading a program to my phone that keeps track of my driving habits. The phone will report any time that I exceed 80 mph as well as any time that I "brake hard" I believe they call it.
There of course was a discount involved, and they tried to sell me on this by telling me that the "app" didn't take much space and that I could delete it later if I wanted.
Being a child of the 60's and not overly technical, I passed.
I told them that the only app I would consider would have to have an n in front of it.
I install few apps. To me, there better be a REALLY good reason for me to install anything.
ReplyDeleteEven worse is the apps that demand certain permissions to work, particularly location, microphone, or camera.
I agree with you that even if you don't give them certain permissions, they are probably getting them anyway.
I would install more apps if I could trust the developer... But in most cases I can't; this is a side effect of the low trust society we are turning into.
Jonathan
I'm not a fan or participant of installing apps either. A bunch came installed in my phone and periodically I go thru and try to uninstall some of them... Games, shopping, music and such. And then some "update" happens and they're back... I don't use "the cloud" either. Whatever that is. (I know, some other computer..)
ReplyDeleteERJ - I have drastically cut down on the number of apps on my phone. The ones I have are generally for informational purposes or educational purposes. I could remove some additional ones but the cost/benefit ratio of having to use a computer to access them is a consideration (these are generally things I frequent often).
ReplyDeleteEstablished trick to cut down on pre-installed apps: Phone made for international market. The xda-developers website can get you on track to free yer fone from fluff. Start with "de-bloat" and go from there. If your phone is not readily tweakble, they'll let you know. I use a bog-stock phone for one app only, for work. For normal use, customized and debloated system.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this only works on Android phones. However, they don't have to STAY Android.
I don't trust the app developers, but I mostly trust the Apple and Android OS to enforce the permissions restrictions. The trick is to ignore the app's pleading to please turn on the microphone/location/camera/etc so it can serve you better.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gary!
DeleteI don't have any problems with apps, I don't have a smart(idiot) phone. I use a basic flip phone and have the text and data(wi-fi) turned off and delete what I can and refuse permission for all. I want a phone for my calling, not for you to track me and locate me. I know where I am at.
ReplyDelete