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Comment by Overtonwindow | Hacker News Reader

Provocative title, but I think it’s stretching the issue a bit. Flip phone can get text messages. You don’t need to have an iPhone.

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While your point that you don't need an iPhone has merit, one can't simply relegate themselves to text messages on a flip phone.

Far too much of the modern world including our societal systems require a smartphone. Wether its a QR code showing COVID vax status, checking email, engaging with your local bank via the app, connecting with friends, etc.

We have built a world that is so reliant on the apps ecosystem (at least in the US) so it's unhelpful to say "flip phone can get text messages".

I think it's fair to say that you essentially need text messages (in the US). However, I question if you need a smartphone beyond that--although a working individual may. I don't need to do any of the things you list with a smartphone although e.g. COVID vax status may in some places. (Just a piece of paper has been sufficient whenever I've needed to.)

I don't really disagree that we're moving to a place where a smartphone is universally needed because of apps but I'm not sure we're universally there today.

I think “need” might be too absolutist of a term. But yeah, not having a device connected to the internet (which is what we’re talking about here, not a supplemental device to your MacBook or whatever) makes life a lot harder.

So no, it’s not food and water level necessary but it’s pretty damn important.

Need a smartphone? Maybe not. Need an internet connection? Probably.

A smartphone just happens to be the easiest way to get phone/SMS & internet. As noted elsewhere, a massive number of Americans (and people worldwide) use their phone as their only means of internet access.

> Just a piece of paper has been sufficient whenever I've needed to

OK so you need a printer, ink, probably a PC… (Or at least access to one, which would be a fine requirement, if the US had good public transport and libraries...)

I don't think I buy that argument very much, though. You can do all of those things in the same way you would have done them before the advent of smartphones - snail mail (or use a library/personal computer to check emails), visit a bank in branch, send text messages to friends on a flip phone. Heck, even most vaccination systems I've seen worldwide have the option of a printed QR code proof.

I won't disagree that these things are massively inconvenient compared to doing it all though a smartphone, but it's far from impossible.

Homeless people have more need of a decent smartphone than I do. I use this site on multiple devices all day, but someone homeless will have — if they’re lucky — only the phone. There’s no substitute for it.

And for what? Understanding and accessing government services, particularly for those trying to escape homelessness. Most of this is done online. The only other realistic option is a public library, but the hours are limited, and they’re geographically inaccessible to lots of folks.

In Brazil, the offline route to apply for the conditional cash transfer program was removed and the only way now is to use a smartphone. This is a program designed for the poorest people that the current government decided to restrict this way.

My kids' high school required a smart phone. They wanted kids using the calendars to track assignments and projects, they used the camera to capture homework instructions from a whiteboard, they were assigned projects that required video shot on their phone, they communicated via something that resembled a private version of Twitter, etc...

I suppose it didn't need to be an activated phone though. You could probably get buy with cheap android phone you buy at CVS and use the school's wifi.

My stepmother somehow manages to live with only a flip phone. I have no idea how she does it.

My dad has a smartphone but other than using it as a phone and for entertainment/games, he really doesn't use the "smart" part of the phone.

My dad is still mad that they turned off his bag-phone.

I could easily do that if it weren’t for the maps and Spotify apps. They really got me there.

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