There is no such thing as a free coffee in the age of pettiness | Arwa Mahdawi

From payment apps encouraging stinginess to uncomplimentary reviews, petty behaviour now has a certain cachet

You know the biggest problem with modern life? If you answered the resurgence of fascism, skyrocketing inequality or climate change … you are wrong. The correct answer is mobile-payment apps.

In New York, most people I know use a payment app, such as Venmo, which lets you send money to friends as easily as sending a text. While such apps are convenient, they have also made everyone super cheap. Once upon a time, you would treat your friend and then they would treat you, and it would all work out eventually. Now, it is common to transfer exact payments for the smallest things. If someone buys you a coffee, for example, you can expect a $2.87 Venmo request to follow. Payment apps have turned us all into petty monsters.

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