Do We Even Own Anything Anymore?
On September 26th, Snapchat announced they would be rolling out subscription fees for memory storage late next year. Users will have 5 gigs of free storage, but those who surpass 5 gigs of saved memories will be required to pay $1.99 per month or risk losing their saved photos and videos that exceed the 5 gig limit.
Snapchatters took to the internet to express their frustrations with this model, claiming Snapchat is taking advantage of their user base. Many are calling this a form of corporate greed, as the company seems to be capitalizing on people’s connection to their saved photos and videos, which they are hesitant to lose. Yet Snapchat Inc is not the only company that has rolled out ridiculous subscription models. Nearly every app, platform, or service now has some form of subscription service looped into their business plan. These circumstances beg the question: Do we really even own anything anymore?
Before the advent of streaming platforms, you would make a one time purchase of a movie disk or vinyl record. Then came the advent of Netflix.
In the early 2010s, Netflix revolutionized the entertainment media market with its streaming service. A monthly subscription could get you access to an expansive library of shows and movies, bypassing the irritation of ads running during cable television. ITunes was quickly phased out in favour of Apple Music and its competitor Spotify, which both rely on monthly subscriptions. This pay by month model has quickly taken over every inch of digital platforms. What used to be free now requires monthly subscriptions to use the full arsenal of services, and these fees aren’t cheap.
A standard Netflix subscription costs $17.99/month. Spotify recently upped its fees to $12.69 for an individual plan. You can’t even use the full library of fonts on Canva without paying $15 a month. Vsco, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Hulu, my third party photo editing app. Subscription fees are everywhere and the prices add up quickly. Now with Snapchat Inc forcing users to pay storage fees for memories, it is becoming apparent that the consumer has no ownership over the media they choose to consume and no autonomy in the virtual market; individuals must either pay the fees or are not only barred access to global media, but also their own photos and videos. Many platforms don’t even offer the perks of original subscription services, like providing an ad free watching experience. But hey, if we don’t watch the 2 minute unskippable ad on Amazon Prime on top of paying the subscription fee, however will Jeff Bezos afford his nine homes!