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Re:Google terminated our Developer Account, says it is “asso... by muzani on Wednesday March 30, 2022 @10:27AM (#30855655)
Apps are effectively utilities today. Apps have replaced taxis and phones. Order food through an app. Transfer money and buy things through apps. Find jobs and work those jobs through apps. Pay parking with apps. A lot of the developing world don't have a web app for certain things.

Refusing to have say, Telegram, on your app store is similar to not allowing a telco to operate. Also as much as I dislike Meta, if Apple/Google decided to remove WhatsApp/Instagram/Facebook, that would disrupt a lot of lives. Many businesses heavily rely on WhatsApp, more than they'd rely on landlines in the past.

Re:Google terminated our Developer Account, says it is “asso... by zdragnar on Wednesday March 30, 2022 @10:34AM (#30855747)
I can't speak for the developing works.

In the US at least, where these companies are headquartered, every example you gave has an alternative that doesn't require an app.

There might be an argument for more regulation, but calling apps utilities most definitely is not one.

Re:Google terminated our Developer Account, says it is “asso... by CharlesW on Wednesday March 30, 2022 @10:58AM (#30856081)
> In the US at least, where these companies are headquartered, every example you gave has an alternative that doesn't require an app.

There are countless U.S. examples where an app (native and/or web) is the only practical interface you have to a company or service.

For example: What's the phone number to YouTube customer service if someone needs to discuss a misunderstanding about a copyright strike?

Re:Google terminated our Developer Account, says it is “asso... by zdragnar on Thursday March 31, 2022 @10:21AM (#30867525)
If you have uploaded a video to YouTube, you don't need a smartphone to browse the web.
Re:Google terminated our Developer Account, says it is “asso... by CharlesW on Thursday March 31, 2022 @10:36AM (#30867673)
What does this have to do with the example?