Because this topic came up in c/technology and I was wondering.

Would this be feasible? How bad would it be to your social life?

  • nimpnin@sopuli.xyz
    0·
    14 hours ago

    I’ve done no. 1 a few times for a month or so each. Some of the biggest problems with that are:

    • Banking can be a bit rough without the app. You can sometimes get a separate device to log in from some banks
    • Digital authentication to eg. government services, and some private services as well works via a smarthphone app. Depends on the country a bit how extensive this is, Sweden has been really bad considering this.
    • Sometimes public transit only/mostly sells tickets through an app
    • Digital maps and route planners are very convenient and not having them substantially increases the time and effort you need to put into finding places

    What usually won’t be a big issue

    • Messaging: Whatsapp, Signal and obviously Facebook Messenger work on the computer, so you won’t be fully missing out on anything. Also, SMSs and calling work well and are cheap/free
    • Missing out on social media and digital entertainment like youtube on a device that you carry 100% of the time is probably just a good thing
    • Photography, you can find all kinds of digital cameras, camcorders and DSLRs for a reasonable price

    All in all, it’s feasible but quite inconvenient at times.

    I find having a smartphone without a sim card at home to be a good compromise. It limits the time I spend on my phone, which in itself is nice, and subsequently decreases the amount of data that can be collected of me. Also, if you aren’t relying on your phone it doesn’t need to be nice and expensive.

    • andrewta@lemmy.world
      0·
      14 hours ago

      The banking side I refuse to use their apps. Either they have a good website that works for a computer or I don’t bank with them. Their loss if they can’t figure out how to build a website.

      The authentication services. For like government services. Thank God, there’s nothing around me that does something like that. Or at least nothing that I’ve run . But I guess there is a day like that where I’m going to be screwed on that end. Again make the website work, right and allow me to authenticate somewhere else.

      The public transport, I could see a day and age where that might be a problem for me.

      Digital maps and route planners, stand on GPS is do exist, but yeah, that one without a smart phone really sucks.

      And yes, I do have a smart phone.

      • nimpnin@sopuli.xyz
        0·
        14 hours ago

        My bank and most others here require a smartphone authentication to log in, even if you use the website on the computer.