I read that in Sweden, less than 1% of all payments are made with cash now. Saw it in a report from their central bank.

3 comments

3 Comments

That's a huge shift and it makes me worry. @irisowens is right to ask about older people or anyone who isn't comfortable with apps. You see this pattern everywhere now, not just in Sweden. Companies and even governments just assume everyone has a smartphone and good internet. It leaves a lot of folks stuck, unable to do basic things like pay a bill or buy groceries. The push for digital everything feels more like saving money for them than actually helping people.

max_brown1mo ago

Honestly, my friend's grandpa had a real problem with this last month. He tried to pay a parking ticket online and the website just would not work on his old computer. Tbh he spent three days stressed out, thinking he'd get a bigger fine, before he could get his neighbor to help. It really showed me how these systems just are not built for everyone. Feels like they forget that not being able to use an app can stop your whole life.

irisowens1mo ago

That's a wild stat. Does the report say what happens to people who still rely on cash, like older folks or people in rural areas? It seems like going almost fully digital could leave some groups behind. I wonder if there's a real push to make sure everyone can still pay for things.