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submitted 10 months ago by throws_lemy to c/privacy@programming.dev
  • Google has reportedly started rolling out its new age verification requirements for the Play Store.
  • Failure to prove you are 18 or older could lead to disruptions in app downloads.
  • Adult users find these new systems very intrusive also report being wrongly flagged as minors and forced to verify using sensitive personal information, including selfies, credit cards, or government IDs.
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[-] RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago

Not that it wasn't already, but it might be time to ditch smartphones. The enshittification was bad already, I know. But my phone shouldn't be asking for my ID to download stuff. Who is that good for? Not good for me.

[-] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 months ago

Welp, time to go back to Symbian

[-] BagOfHeavyStones@piefed.social 2 points 10 months ago

Did Symbian ever get to 4G / LTE? I remember it in the 3G era. I also remember having to set the date back when installing apps as their certificates expired after a while.

[-] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 10 months ago

I don't think so, as the 808 PureView (last phone released by Nokia with Symbian) doesn't. Still, those problems could and would be solved if Symbian had continued development.

[-] Scoopta@programming.dev 19 points 10 months ago

Hmmm, now is this actually doing any good for anyone...or is big tech using children and governments as an excuse to collect more of our data? Hard to tell /s

[-] belated_frog_pants@beehaw.org 3 points 10 months ago

This is about blocking large swaths of content and making social profiles for people without anonymity.

[-] chillpanzee@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 months ago

They already collect it all. This refines what they collect.

Through a different lens... you could say that refining the data they collect improves the quality of the product (you). So it's not meant to do anything good for the people who use Google services; it's meant to benefit Google's customers--the advertisers.

[-] can@sh.itjust.works 18 points 10 months ago

The faster Google kills Android the faster we get a Linux phone, right?

[-] ProfessorProteus@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago

My hopes are certainly up, given the recent growth of Linux users (myself included ☺️)

[-] somerandomperson@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 10 months ago

linux on mobile is awesome... but sadly NOT EVEN ONE OF MY FUCKING DEVICES ARE SUPPORTED...

[-] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 2 points 10 months ago

Create a need and nerds will fulfil it, I have faith!

[-] Scout339@forum.guncadindex.com 6 points 10 months ago

Time to use the Aurora store to access the play store.

[-] Blaze@piefed.zip 4 points 10 months ago
this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2025
69 points (98.6% liked)

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