I’m about to suggest another app for you to install. :p

If you’re using an android phone (I don’t know if it exist on iOS) install the DuckDuckGo app. It has a feature called “App Tracking Protection”. It is supposed to block all trackers. I think it works as one of the games i have installed on my phone takes about a minute longer to load, compared to without the tracking protection. I think this is the next best course of action (apart from not installing / using the required apps).

I went to Buffalo Wild Wings the other day and they tried to have me download an app to pay my bill. I almost had my first Karen moment when I saw that.

I took an old phone and fully reset it to use for all these shitware apps. I’ve looked into buying an anonymous SIM card so it won’t be at all connected to me, but the underlying assumption seems to be if you want that you must be a drug dealer. Best I’ve found is mysudo, which requires payment, but it’s really not much, and only stores the minimum on their side. Gives you an anonymous email and phone number. The other problem with all these apps is the engineers are given at best half the time they need to do a good job, so they’re always buggy, insecure, and have a shitty UI. But some project manager managed to show Impact and get a bonus.

NextDNS.io can block the trackers in the apps

Is there not an app that can partition these apps that we are made to download. So the companies are happy that they are installed. But they have no real access to your real data. The app could feed it fake info when requests are made.

But when you have the app actually open maybe give it real GPS access as they are store specific on most of their apps.

I had to download an app to pay a bill recently. What the fuck is that about?

Smart phones ruined the internet

Not sure if you’re on iPhone or Android but I root my OnePlus 9pro and use several ad blockers and privacy apps. A good one is xprivacylua, because it doesn’t just block trackers but instead feeds them phony data so it interferes with the function of the app as little as possible. I would recommend you install shamiko as well to prevent apps from detecting that your phone is rooted. I’m sure there are similar options for iPhone but I’m not familiar it’s been too long since I’ve had a jailbroken iPhone.

This is why if a service cannot be used in a hardened browser, I usually pass.

I am okay-ish about a service collecting some of the data I generate while using the service, but not much beyond that.

I’m guessing the reason for most things forcing you to use an app is less because of data harvesting, and more because it increases repeated use.

When you have to go to your browser and remember to check a website it’s harder to create a habit. If you have an icon flashing on your home screen every day it’s much easier to remember to go to their site. Sure you can “Add to Home screen” functionality, but average users don’t even know that exists.

It also feels like a bespoke app is more “professional” than a website, despite many apps secretly just being a website anyway.

That said, they are definitely harvesting your data. I just don’t think that’s the main reason for most apps.

I’ve moved mostly to progressive web apps that truly stop when you close them. For sure they will try to use trackers when they’re running but you can stop that with pihole or NextDNS if you’re on the move with your mobile. You can regain some control if you have the motivation to do so. If you have to install an app, you can still block tracking via these methods and more.

Similarly I hate that everything requires an app when a webpage works absolutely fine.

Nothing more infuriating than sites that have a fully (or half) working mobile version but then force you to use the app (stars eyes at reddit)

Tangentially related, but I hate eating at Chili’s because they have little screens on every table. I don’t mind restaurants having a ton or TVs because they’re playing sports games and people want to watch them. Each of these POS machines has constant ads playing though. You can pay with it (and probably order stuff) but you can also pay to play games. It’s insane.

Does the uni not cater to older people who don’t have a phone? They probably have old systems in place for them if you insist to them you don’t have a phone.

i was looking for a new toothbrush yesterday… they have app enabled toothbrushes. bluetooth. why the fuck do i need an app to brush my fucking teeth?