this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2026
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I really don't think that specific emotion is isolated to gen z.
I remember all the promise and excitement that tech had back in the late 00's and early 10's. Things were unique and fun. That's just not true anymore. Every new software update adds shit that you didn't ask for and don't want (AI, ads, removal of user freedom). New hardware releases are either an underwhelming iteration of specs from the previous version, or an unimaginative device that has the same basic look and feel as every other device it's competing with.
Tech used to be fun and exploratory, now it's just companies pushing to see how much they can be allowed to exploit you for the least cost.
Don't even get me started on the 1990s. Every new processor generation actually felt faster. Web pages had blinking banners because the creator thought it looked cool, not to advertise a personal information vacuum. There was no better introduction to the public's absolutely awful sense of style. But I went from talking to international friends for $0.50/minute to free, and it was amazing.
Introducing the new Dyson vacuum! Maybe this is what they mean when they say it's got a digital motor.
I just had this exact sentiment with the navigation app Magic Earth. A Google alternative that works decently enough, doesn't rob my data, and also has a built in dash cam function and is all for free? Sign me up! They just went freemium. Dash cam and a bunch of other features are now locked behind a paywall, and it came with an update one couldn't avoid. I'm so pissed, and really wish I could have avoided that. Now I'm searching for a half decent alternative.
What's really just depressing is that these companies are more profitable and worth more than ever before. They don't need to do this. They are essentially tightening their grip on civilization's throat to see how hard they can squeeze before we all die, for the love of the game.
It's also weird because they are opening themselves up to being out-competed by a company that isn't (as) evil. Being not evil is the most valuable market differentiator right now. Companies like Valve that seem to just be sticking with "we have enough money" are like water in the desert.
valve is not public, rest of big tech is; which means shareholders are god and line must go up whatever the costs involved are, including civilization breakdown & climate change mass extinctions
Oh boy. If people would just start seeing that open source still gives you exactly this, but you know, Linux is for incels and shit, I much more prefer being spied on by big corp.
Well, no. It's because Linux has never tried to appeal to casual users. Even if you download something like Ubuntu, you still have to jump through hoops sometimes to install things. People are turned off by using command lines.
With Mac and Windows, you just search up what you want and download it.
Compatability is a huge thing too.
Linux and FOSS tech about to become the new mainstream underground punk rock hangout spot.
Always has been.
I feel the same. I quit working in tech. It really has no soul anymore, specially talking to chat bots and agents.
Tech now is building the infrastructure for dystopia and its so obvious.
Are you still working? If so, doing what?
I quit the whole rat race. Early retirement with pension. It's way better on this side of things. And I never had the nice tech jobs that made most of lemmy rich anyway (even tho you all complain about being poor--$85K+ is rich for most people, guys). But at least I don't have to work anymore. :)
I quit the whole rat race. Early retirement with pension. It's way better on this side of things. And I never had the nice tech jobs that made most of lemmy rich anway. But at least I don't have to work anymore. :)
No I took time off work and havent worked since october last year. Its been absolutely amazing. But I did work for 25 years before that so I have built up savings.
I live off savings and the stock market and it works pretty good. But now in starting to be more worried about a global crisis because of oil and fertilizer blockages, which will tank the stock markets if it happens.
So im currently being careful. The coming month will be very interesting. If industries are affected by oil shortages or if food prices are affected by no fertilizer, people will get worried.
I'm just going to put this here. There are places feel that way again. tildeverse.org
tildeverse
Thanks for sharing!
Amen. Every time I hear about a new tech product or startup or conference, now all I see are ads, subscription traps, and generally just people looking for new ways to fuck me.
(And I don't like to be fucked by anyone except Mrs. Wallace)
Technological development reached a plateau, but shareholder value still needed to grow!
The fun and exploratory tech still exists, its just not sitting as a single product on a store shelf in a plastic clamshell package. The maker space is where all the exciting exploration is happening. If you have an idea the technology likely exists to make it happen, and the cost of the parts won't break the bank. Lots of reuse of cast off out-of-date tech can be integrated dropping the costs even more. While there are even better solutions, if you're just getting started pick up an old Arduino or Raspberry Pi (not the new expensive high end models) for under $30. Grow from there to microcontrollers like the ESP32 where it gets even cheaper for about $5 each. Learn to solder! Learn modeling and 3D printing! Use an operating system that lets you control your system instead of one that you just have to accept what they give you.
It really is an amazing time in tech if you stop accepting a products as they are, and instead what you want them to be with your own modifications.
Yep, but that doesn't fit the doom-and-gloom outlook that most of Lemmy has. You're post is totally right on though!
It's all true and cool if you stumble upon that today, but IMO that's a bit what OP talks about, esp(or the original 8266), pi and 3d printers were new and fun ages ago. Don't get me wrong, it's still a fun space but not much has happened the last ten years there (or prove me wrong 😁!)
10ish years ago when R Pi and Arduino entered the scene it was a big splash, but the most benefit really only occurred for folks that could take the raw parts and had the ability to built a new solution largely without help from others. Its even better today because you can buy a ready-made Pi Hat, fully documented, with drivers, to dramatically expand the functionality of an R Pi today. 10 years ago, you'd be laying out your own PCB, etching it yourself, and soldiering those SMT components with your own hot air pencil. Now you don't, and you can access that functionality to keep building on whatever it is you're actually trying to build.
Nearly everything has a RestAPI now. This means coding solutions are much more accessible for modifications. Software Defined Radio is cheap and easy now, all with over a decade of documented solutions and parts available. This leads to things like Meshtastic and Flipper.
Its a much more accessible space to these cheap and functional technologies than it was 10ish years ago.
Yes, it might be just me but I liked tinkering (and no need for surface mounted parts, legged ones were quite ok!) and coding, writing communication stuff in c++, driving loads of servos by smart interrupt code etc. and feel not so interested in just following say how a meshstatic works or just buy one.
"Everything" also has been built which doesn't help. Or so I feel!
It boggles my mind how people accept auto- and forced updates these days. I go far, far out of my way to use software where YOU have to go and download an update if you want it.
On a directly related note, Linux is so awesome for being the most attainable it's ever been. Too bad that its own transparency basically ensures that it may never become mainstream... But I still laud absolutely France for trying!