#0255
2026-07-05
lemonmama.com
By author Morgan Jassen
Grappling Personal Identity Smartphone - Software Privacy Security Identity 021
I am grappling with identity issues surrounding smartphone use in 2026 USA.
Its because I never signed up for these but these are where the state of things is now at.
And the thing is these are important.
These are things one needs to be able to control oneself.
(relationships, identity, money)
Let me temper that.
Because I lived in city and suburbs too since then.
Where I came from, in hindsight was rural area, and folks valued self-sufficiency differently than in urban area.
And so it got ingrained in me I need to be 95% in control of these myself.
And so now if these get hijacked more and more 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%..., then I feel ill.
Hijacked for example by dark patterns (popups with no desired option). Hijacked by teams of executives/engineers from companies who design devices/apps.
- messaging with loved ones
- storing private data
- as proof of identification
- performing banking transactions
- storing currency or money
now many folks do all of these on one's phone.
in past we used to use separate devices or things for these, respectively:
- two-wire telephone plugged into the wall, with zero data persisence (not even speed dial)
- file case with paper folders and files
- driver's license physical plastic card no chip, paper birth certificate, paper social security card
- physical bank teller window with a person behind it
- paper cash dollars, and metal coins, for currency money
so now how to integrate smartphones and devices and app?
i know, you are saying hurrry up.
that was already 40 years ago when that stuff was all different.
however.
it really is changing fast.
the iphone was introduced when, in 2008?
that is 18 years ago.
and now folks are putting all their valuables on one place (smartphone) that is actually literally 100% controllable by teams of people who aren't __required__ to have folks' best interest in mind, and who in fact by definition need to have the teams' interest in mind foremost.
imagine, if I want to keep being able to access my lifes savings, i.e. via smartphone, then, i have to keep updating my smartphone to the new model every 3 years and also i have to buy $200 earbuds every 3 years and I have to subject to 6x unsolicited attention-draining popup and ad every day on my apps/devices?
it is draining.
but so how to adjust and how to go with the flow.
lol this rant started just now because i went to log in to my brokerage account and saw the following:
1.) ad for sports betting on the home page
2.) required 2fa through my phone in order to log in.
well this was definitely a rant.
and without proposing any solutions.
SEE PREVIOUS BLOG DRAFTS/POSTS TAGGED "...Software Privacy Security Identity..." FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
In conclusion, it is only 40 (or 18) years and my identity is being wrenched around pushed around by devices and apps. how to proceed and what to do? this rant examines what happened and without proposing any solutions. see previous blog drafts/posts for possible solutions.
See Also:
"#0118 - Banking Privacy in Context of Web Browser" | ../../lemonmama/2025/0118%20banking%20privacy%20web%20browser.xhtml
"#0154 - Devices Addicting and how to Detox" | ../../lemonmama/2025/0154%20Detoxing%20Addicting%20Devices.html
"#0248 - Poopup Says Backup Photos In Cloud - Software Privacy Security Identity 020" | ../../lemonmama/2026/0248%20popup%20backup%20photos%20cloud.html
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