If anything has been said a billion times over, especially in our current age of developed tech and AI, it’s that “Big Brother is watching us.” However, it isn’t any less dystopian when we stumble across something that normally would be 100% physical, but now has been digitalized, such as one particular “smart playground” in Arizona.
“They want you to download an app to “get active on the playground,'” the Arizonan Reddit user posts on r/mildlyinfuriating, clearly annoyed that this sort of playground is even a concept. Based on the sign in the shared photo, kids are encouraged to download a “free app” that grants them access to a game to play at the playground. Even their parents can join in the fun if they so choose. Plenty of people in the comment section thought this was a pretty innovative idea.
A top comment read, “That actually sounds hella cool as an optional added activity to do at the playground,” with hundreds upvoting in agreement. On the other hand, a big majority was also very skeptical of how this “free playground app” would likely exploit data from those who downloaded it.
“Their end goal is always to either collect data to sell and/or find ways for the local politicians to spend taxpayer money,” remarks one user. “I’m more concerned with it telling kids to download an app,” seconded another. “That is sketchy practice to push on kids.” One commenter predicted that the app would likely have ads and possibly microtransactions, on top of the obvious data tracking.
In the end, though, what’s one other app invading our privacy and personal data more than the many others many use on a regular basis? On the flip side, the point of a playground is for children to run about, get physically active with friends, and use their imagination. It’s an important socializing time for kids, after all. However, bringing a digital app into the equation via an already attention-sucking smartphone is bound to have negative long-term effects.
