gesa’s avatargesa’s Twitter Archive—№ 30,521

                  1. I was poor. I’ll never forget impossible decisions I had to make. Some of you have no idea though, so economist.com/news/united-states/21663262-why-low-income-americans-often-have-pay-more-its-expensive-be-poor A few quotes:
                1. …in reply to @gesa
                  In 2014 nearly half of American households said they could not cover an unexpected $400 expense without borrowing or selling something
              1. …in reply to @gesa
                Only half of those earning less than $30,000 per year own a smartphone, compared with 70% or more of those in higher income groups.
            1. …in reply to @gesa
              (and for many of those half, their smartphone is their _only_ internet access.) A quarter of poor households do not use the internet at all.
          1. …in reply to @gesa
            (done with quotes) In tech we are so focussed on solving the problems of well-off people. Especially 20-something white men.
        1. …in reply to @gesa
          I know that’s a trope but not enough people seem to be getting it. We must do better. We must work to help less fortunate people as well.
      1. …in reply to @gesa
        We have such amazing skills. We could do such great things to help. We won’t solve income inequality. But we can *help*.
    1. …in reply to @gesa
      spouse: “what’s up?” me: “i got mad on the internet. again.”
  1. …in reply to @gesa
    Tech can’t fix poverty. But for those people who only get online via their smartphones, we can do a better job giving them access.
    1. …in reply to @gesa
      In late 2013, @karenmcgrane did a great job of collecting a lot of statistics on just how people access the web: karenmcgrane.com/2014/01/13/the-mobile-content-mandate/
      1. …in reply to @gesa
        Spoiler alert: mobile is going to grow and grow and grow. Designing that “please visit on a desktop” shit cannot fly anymore.
        1. …in reply to @gesa
          and for god’s sake, don’t pass moral judgement on poverty. don’t mock those who don’t have the newest tech. you don’t know their story.