Participation in society shouldn’t require a smartphone — America needs offline accessibility

As businesses and governments digitize access to essential services, they quietly bind our participation in daily life to screens, undermining equality and autonomy. Just look at the parking meter that only accepts payment through an app, the concert that requires an e-ticket, or the discount that requires scanning a QR code. 

Smartphone ownership and constant connectivity are now assumed. Apps, mobile wallets and digital IDs — often available only through smartphones or smartwatches — are increasingly required to access public services. 

This digital barrier excludes the 9 percent of Americans — about 30 million people — who do not own a smartphone, as well as many others who cannot reliably use one or choose not to. 

As a nation, we agree that equal access matters. The Americans with Disabilities Act, for example, recognizes that people should not be denied access to services or education because of physical limitations. App-only systems undermine that principle, excluding those unable to use smartphones due to visual or cognitive impairments, those who cannot afford devices or data plans, and anyone whose device is simply unavailable.

They also gatekeep access to basics like food. Many grocery stores now offer app-only discounts — a can of soup costs $2.50 with the app, for example, but $3.50 without it. Offline alternatives, such as physical discount cards or........

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