Streaming loyalty isn’t forced, it’s chosen. South Africans notice when value slips and flexibility disappears, and we leave quietly when it no longer makes sense.

#OpenLetter #Netflix #SouthAfricanConsumers #StreamingCulture #BrandTrust #ConsumerChoice

https://hellolelo.co.za/an-open-letter-to-netflix-dont-confuse-familiarity-with-loyalty/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Grok 4: Bias Battlefield - All In Podcast

#freemarket #consumerchoice

Canada’s tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles is deepening dependence on the U.S.
#Canada #China #Trump #USA #ChineseEVs #BYD #EV #TradePolicy #CanadaUSTrade #Tariffs #TradeWar #ClimateGoals #AutoIndustry #CleanEnergy #Business #ConsumerChoice #Economy
https://the-14.com/canadas-tariff-wall-on-chinese-electric-vehicles-is-deepening-dependence-on-the-u-s/

South Korea's Financial Services Commission will expand consumer choice in auto insurance, allowing repairs with OEM parts amid controversy over mandatory use of certified aftermarket parts, aiming to reform high-cost repair structures and enhance consumer benefits.
#YonhapInfomax
#FinancialServicesCommission #AutoInsurance #OEMParts #CertifiedAftermarketParts #ConsumerChoice
#Economics #FinancialMarkets #Banking #Securities #Bonds #StockMarket
https://en.infomaxai.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=75619

The solution - dare I say it? - don't buy! What can you live without to shake up the world? 🤣

The bewildering phenomenon of declining #quality https://english.elpais.com/culture/2025-07-20/the-bewildering-phenomenon-of-declining-quality.html

#consumergoods #customerservice #efficiency #consumerchoice #NoBuy2025!

@stman @Sempf @LaF0rge yes.

Because physical SIMs, like any "cryptographic chipcard" (i.e. @nitrokey ) did all that fancy public/private crypto on silicon and unless that was compromizeable (which AFAICT always necessistated physical access to the #SIM, espechally in pre-#OMAPI devices) the SIM wasn't 'cloneable' and the weakest link always had been the #MNO /.#MVNO issueing (may it be through #SocialHacking employees into #SimSwapping or LEAs showng up with a warrant and demanding "#LawfulInterception"):

• These "attack vectors" were known and whilst unfixable they could at least be mitigated by i.e. NEVER using a #PhoneNumber for anything and/or using anonymously obtained #SIMs. But more and more services like @signalapp did #regression demanding #PII and more and more nations criminalized #AnonymousSimCards under utterly #cyberfacist & #FalsePretenses!

Add to that the regression in flexibility:

Unlike a #SimCard which was designed as a vendor-independent, #MultiVendor, #MultiProvider, device agnostic unit to facilitate the the #authentification and #encryption in #GSM (and successor standards), #eSIMs act to restrict #DeviceFreedom and #ConsumerChoice, which with shit like #KYC per #IMEI (i.e. #Turkey demands it after 90 days of roaming per year) und #lMEI-based #Allowlisting (see #Australia's shitty #VoLTE + #2G & #3G shutdown!) are just acts to clamp down on #privacy and #security.

• And with #EID being unique per #eSIM (like the #IMEI on top!) there's nothing stopping #cyberfacist regimes like "P.R." #China, #Russia, #Iran, ... from banning "#eSIMcards" (#eSIM in SIM card form factor) or entire device prefixes (i.e. all phones that are supported by @GrapheneOS ), as M(V)NOs see the EID used to deploy/activate a profile (obviously they don't want people to activate eSIMs more than once, unless explicitly allowed otherwise.

"[…] [Technologies] must always be evaluated for their ability to oppress. […]

• Dan Olson

And now you know why I consider a #smartphone with eSIM instead of two SIM slots not as a real #DualSIM device because it restricts my ability to freely move devices.

• And whilst German Courts reaffirmed §77 TKG (Telco Law)'s mandate to letting people choose their devices freely, (by declarong #fees for reissue of eSIMs illegal) that is only enforceable towards M(V)NOs who are in #Germany, so 'good luck' trying to enforce that against some overseas roaming provider.

Thus #Impersonation attacks in GSM-based networks are easier than ever before which in the age of more skilled than ever #Cybercriminals and #Cyberterrorists (i.e. #NSA & #Roskomnadnozr) puts espechally the average #TechIlliterate User at risk.

• I mean, anyone else remember the #Kiddies that fucked around with #CIA director #Brennan? Those were just using their "weapons-grade #boredom", not being effective, for-profit cyber criminals!

And then think about those who don't have privilegued access to protection by their government, but rather "privilegued access" to prosecution by the state because their very existance is criminalized...

The only advantage eSIMs broight in contrast is 'logistical' convenience because it's mostly a #QRcode and that's just a way to avoid typos on a cryptic #LocalProfileAgent link.

📢 BREAKING: American buys Chinese watch, feels like Benedict Arnold! 🇺🇸➡️🇨🇳 In a shocking twist, our brave patriot is now the proud owner of a #Huawei gadget, *gasp*, immediately questioning allegiance to the homeland. Because nothing screams "traitor" like opting for Chinese tech over an American-made Casio. 🙄⌚
https://musgrave.substack.com/p/oh-no-i-betrayed-america #AmericanTech #Patriotism #Gadgets #Controversy #ConsumerChoice #HackerNews #ngated

🎉 Welcome to 2025, where Teenage Engineering thinks it's reinventing #capitalism by letting you choose how much to pay for their overpriced bleep-bloop toy! 🤔 "Vote with your wallets," they say, as if the average consumer is yearning to be part of a capitalist social experiment that’s as reliable as a wet paper towel. 💸
https://teenage.engineering/ #TeenageEngineering #Innovation #ConsumerChoice #BleepBloopToy #HackerNews #ngated

One of the main fallacies propagated repeatedly by companies and brands is the overemphasis on #consumerchoice as the real driver of the #ecologicaldamage being done to the planet. In reality, there’s a clear lack of meaningful action from large #companies when it comes to taking responsibility.

https://www.rethinkeconomics.org/blog/2025/05/24/food-and-the-myth-of-consumer-choice/

Next up is the EU is demanding Apple to allow you to mix and match your earbuds! Imagine buying ONE AirPod and pairing it with a Samsung or Sony earbud on the other ear—and they'd actually work together!

This will be the next chapter in the EU's push for tech interoperability.

#TechNews #EURegulation #Interoperability #ConsumerChoice​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Since there's no way to opt-out of Youtube's ridiculous new #UI designed for children on touchscreens, I'll just not watch #Youtube

Sometimes, it really is that simple. The choice is yours.
#consumerchoice #darkpatterns

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission engages in consent decree talks with Google over YouTube Music bundling practices, addressing consumer choice concerns in digital services.
#YonhapInfomax #FairTradeCommission #Google #YouTubeMusic #ConsentDecree #ConsumerChoice #Economics #FinancialMarkets #Banking #Securities #Bonds #StockMarket
https://en.infomaxai.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=58943

If the USA wanted me to buy their products, then they should sell them in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). So far, it seems that only Chinese companies have done this for the Malaysian market. There are even many flagship phones priced at RM1000++ instead of iPhones priced at RM5000++. What Chinese companies offer us is better because of competitive specifications as well as competitive prices, and more control due to the Android OS, rather than iOS by default, which I don't trust Apple to handle my data. Chinese companies have addressed the issues of affordability and accessibility to technology for Malaysians, while the USA only sells products that we use to show off or appear superior to others. Is the USA trying to force us to buy their products? This seems like modern authoritarianism to me.

#TechInMalaysia #USChinaTech #AffordableTech #MalaysianMarket #TechAccessibility #Smartphones #EconomicPolicies #ConsumerChoice #TechCompetition #AndroidVsiOS #DataPrivacy #EconomicInfluence #GlobalTech #ConsumerRights #MarketDynamics #TechInnovation #LocalEconomy #ConsumerTrust #ModernAuthoritarianism

It's time to join forces!

#TrumpTariffs #US #Tariffs #TeslaCybertruck #ElectricVehicles #AutomotiveIndustry #ConsumerAwareness #SustainableLiving #EthicalChoices #TeslaCritic #TradeWar #ConsumerChoice #TeslaNews #Tesla #ElonMusk #ConsumerAwareness #EthicalChoices #TeslaCybertruck #TeslaCritic #ElonMusk

不要买特斯拉汽车。它们一点也不酷。
Bù yāo mǎi tè sī lā qìchē. Tāmen yīdiǎn yě bù kù.

Don't buy Tesla cars. They are not cool at all. (This is a very literal and straightforward translation from Chinese). Let's help the Chinese people make up their minds! Please share!

#teslaTakeDown #tradewar #electricvehicles #Tesla #automotive #carbuying #consumerchoice #TeslaCritic #TeslaReview

Sen. Mark Kelly's bold move to ditch his Tesla raises questions about brand loyalty. A personal disillusionment with Elon Musk over his controversial decisions has led Kelly to reconsider driving a car that represents values he cannot support. This decision highlights the impact of leadership on consumer choices and speaks to broader political and ethical concerns. Read more about this intriguing story [here](https://crooksandliars.com/2025/03/mark-kelly-ditching-his-tesla-built-and). #MarkKelly #Tesla #ElonMusk #ConsumerChoice #BrandLoyalty

9️⃣ Contrast that with LASIK eye surgery and cosmetic procedures—where prices are known upfront and have dropped over time due to competition. Transparency works. #UpfrontPricing #ConsumerChoice

In support of #DEI, is it enough to pick where you shop? Can you pick where you shop?

A look at voting with your dollar - https://buff.ly/3EcIy8e

#capitalism #employeesupport #homedelivery #shipping #Amazon #Costco #Walmart #HEB #shopping #consumerchoice

In support of #DEI, is it enough to pick where you shop? Can you pick where you shop?

A look at the complexity of voting with your dollar - https://buff.ly/3EcIy8e

#capitalism #employeesupport #homedelivery #shipping #Amazon #Costco #Walmart #HEB #shopping #consumerchoice

In support of #DEI, is it enough to pick where you shop? Can you pick where you shop?

A look at the complexity of voting with your dollar - https://buff.ly/3EcIy8e

#capitalism #employeesupport #homedelivery #shipping #Amazon #Costco #Walmart #HEB #shopping #consumerchoice