this post was submitted on 11 May 2025
58 points (100.0% liked)

Smartphone Required ๐Ÿ“ฑ(digital exclusion of people without smartphones)

280 readers
1 users here now

This community collects stories, cases and situations where people without smartphones are excluded from society.

Rules/culture:
โ‘  If the post is not a specific instance of smartphones being imposed on people but generally about this topic, please consider prefixing the title with something like โ€œ(philosophy)โ€ or โ€œ(advocacy)โ€, or the like.
โ‘ก If the post is about this forum itself (e.g. about moderation or something), please consider prefixing the title with โ€œ(metapost)โ€.
โ‘ข Please consider prefixing titles with a region if the post is region-specific.

Somewhat related:

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I recall successfully renewing my registration several times online before, but now they want a phone number and they are pushing some weird government smartphone app "to handle your government todo items"?

top 7 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[โ€“] xia@lemmy.sdf.org 23 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Update: Although not listed on the site, I was able to find a link to the old online registration system (which feels very COBOL-ish), and it worked without any smartphone shenanigans.

[โ€“] over_clox@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] xia@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 10 months ago

The paper mailer directs people to the new and shiny https://www.texas.gov/ (which wants you to create an account and have a smartphone, etc).

The old webflow I mentioned is here https://www.txdmv.gov/osp-registration-renewal (which does not require a mobile number or account creation, etc).

[โ€“] Gerudo@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I just did this a couple weeks ago and don't remember needing my phone.

Missed the part where this was to create a new account. I've had one for years, so maybe this is something they changed.