44 F
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Only 1/4 of NYC Wi-Fi Kiosks Are Operating; Marketing Strategy Questioned

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

By: John Hemison

Walking the streets of the city pre 2014, you used to see a payphone on every block. Post 2014, you now see electronic kiosks that offer free WiFi, “a critical step toward a more equal, open, and connected city,” Mayor Bill de Blasio. The sole purpose of LinkNYC was to connect New Yorkers digitally, New Yorkers that may not have access in neighborhoods that need it most. Recently, LinkNYC kiosks have been found clustered in remote areas that are better for advertising, a marketing strategy instead of a helpful tool for New Yorkers.

For most, this kiosk is a huge screen of fun facts. The kiosks themselves are physically nine feet tall, with two 55-inch screens on both sides that contain maps, directions, a USB charging station, and access to phone calls and Wifi. It doesn’t serve much of a purpose to most New Yorkers, but to some it is essential to stay connected when they might not have the opportunity to normally. This is what LinkNYC was produced for, so outwardly in such a large number.

However, the kiosks are being placed in areas that are more prosperous for advertising, and less so in areas that need it, very badly. The maps prove that kiosks are most prominent in places where the New Yorkers are not in need of this service at all and, in fact, get annoyed by screen after screen. The city’s poorest areas have little to no kiosks.

LinkNYC has had some strange issues in its development. In 2016, it had to diable most of its usable because people were using them to watch pornography. Business owners in the city have stated that these screens are “magnets for the homeless.” That same year, a letter was sent directly to the mayor’s office, raising deep concern about “the vast amount of private information retained by the LinkNYC system and the lack of robust language in the privacy policy protecting users against unwarranted government surveillance.” In fact, this exact issue has even caused violence. A few months ago, a man, who was paranoid about being watched all the time, managed to destroy 42 kiosks, NYPD calling it a “smash spree.”

But LinkNYC has made it clear in their own statement that “New York City and CityBridge have created customer-first privacy protections to ensure our users’ personal information stays that way – personal. We believe our privacy policy is the best way to protect New Yorkers and LinkNYC users while they safely and securely enjoy free superfast Wi-Fi across the five boroughs. We will continue to work to ensure legitimate concerns are addressed.”

It may be safe, but the kiosks’ use value lose all validity when standing its areas that don’t necessarily have a desire for it. So, at the end of the day, who is it for? The busy citizens of New York? Or the company, the mayor, and their finances?

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -