Occasionally, my thoughts drift towards the potential futures shaped by our history and present global realities. I contemplate the splendid prospects technology holds for us. I imagine a world where advanced logistics eradicate hunger, a balanced approach to work reduces unemployment rates while shortening working hours, and our economic system adjusts to eliminate homelessness and the property market in general. Yet, on other occasions, I ponder the worrying possibilities, the scenarios where things could spiral into an even more disheartening state. Today, we'll explore the latter, delving into the realms of potential horror that lie before us.

I Don’t Have a Bed, and I Must Sleep

The first such horror is the possibility that we stand mere decades from an alarming potential shift in how we live — one where the very concept of a secure, permanent shelter could transform into a luxury accessible to only a privileged few. It's not a simple matter of choosing between owning or renting a property; it's about the unsettling notion that returning to a familiar bed each month, week or even night might no longer be guaranteed within the next half-century. This potential trajectory raises troubling questions about societal stability, equity, and the ominous consequences that might unfold if we continue down the current economic path.

A meticulously constructed marketing facade would present this as the pinnacle of personal liberation: the idea of shedding the constraints of a fixed location as a sense of exhilarating freedom. No longer bound by the chains of one place, we could envision ourselves as untethered wanderers, savouring the kaleidoscope of life's experiences through ceaseless movement!

This mirage of newfound freedom paints a picture where geographical boundaries dissolve, releasing us from the clutches of routine and permanence. Breaking free from the shackles of a singular locale would appeal to our innate desire for exploration and adventure.

The realisation of this potential future could manifest in diverse ways. For instance, the expansion of large corporations into domains encompassing thousands of employees and extensive land ownership might lead them to introduce company-backed residential arrangements. Such initiatives could symbolise both a gesture of solidarity with the intellectual labour force pivotal to the corporation's triumph and a stance of assistance for the less skilled workforce they employ. These individuals often grapple with the challenges posed by meagre wages and suboptimal working conditions, many of which skirt the boundaries of legality.

Another way in which this could occur could be more communal housing. In cities, space is becoming increasingly precious, and prices for said space are skyrocketing. Yet, this is seen as a natural occurrence in the market. So what happens when this keeps happening, and drastic measures aren’t implemented to fix it? We see increased numbers of people per dwelling. It’s starting with people living with their parents for longer, but what happens to the next generation? And the next? Is it a surprise that we’re seeing an increase in open relationships and groups of people living together? Perhaps not.

Regardless of how we cope with it, the foundation of personal stability and well-being could erode if such a path is followed. The vulnerable and marginalised could find themselves further marginalised. Education, healthcare, and social services — all dependent on a stable living environment — could become increasingly elusive for those caught in this cycle of instability. With confidence in the tertiary education system falling, this isn’t the most unrealistic scenario I can come up with.

Moreover, the absence of secure shelter could ignite a maelstrom of discontent and agitation. The glossy veneer of marketing that paints this upheaval as a newfound form of freedom might quickly lose its allure in the face of practical realities. Rioting in the streets, driven by desperation for a better quality of life, could become an all-too-real scenario.

However, the implications of this potential scenario can be worse. Picture a future where the fear of relinquishing what little remains propels people into passive compliance and submission. The prospect of losing more than they've already forfeited looms like a spectre, casting a chilling shadow over any inkling of resistance or dissent. Under the weight of this pervasive fear, the flames of resistance are quelled and extinguished before they can ignite a spark of change. The relentless grip of apprehension suffocates the notion of challenging the status quo. The prospect of losing more becomes a formidable deterrent, eroding the will to dissent.

Now consider the urban landscapes we inhabit. How would cities grapple with a populace in constant flux? The infrastructure we rely upon — sanitation, transportation, public services — could buckle under the strain of such dynamic living patterns. However, they will be dismissed as the natural side effect of shifting trends, becoming features of the system. We’ll find a way to turn these struggles into new markets, allowing profit to continue to be made off our basic needs in new and exciting ways.

Amidst a backdrop of increasing alienation, our reality seemingly inches toward a caricatured version of dystopia akin to TV series like Black Mirror. This raises the question: do such shows inadvertently foster a form of consent for the impending practices that aim to extract value from us, pushing us further into a world where personal autonomy and agency are compromised?

Everything is a subscription

The pervasive shift towards the subscription model is undeniably evident, and it's safe to say we're already entrenched in this paradigm. Nevertheless, let me delve into how this trajectory could potentially worsen. As we observe the ongoing progression of various aspects of our lives adopting subscription models, envision the possibility of this trend intensifying to encompass even broader domains. Subscription services are gradually infiltrating our daily routines, often subtly facilitated through automated payments that easily escape our attention.

On one front, the surge in subscription services has introduced a conundrum centred around piracy and perceived resource misuse. Streaming platforms, for instance, grappled with challenges while attempting to counteract the sharing of account credentials among users. In their bid to curb this behaviour, they sometimes inadvertently faced the departure of users to other platforms — both legitimate and otherwise. Paradoxically, the effort to combat piracy can unintentionally fuel the very outcome they aim to prevent, thereby inadvertently fostering piracy itself.

Conversely, certain platforms persist in their prosperity despite their inflexibility. A prime example is Steam, the digital distribution platform for video games. Despite enforcing Digital Rights Management (DRM) protocols, Steam has sustained its robustness and popularity within the gamer community. The reasons behind this endurance could stem from factors such as securing a substantial market share ahead of competitors, engaging in strategic community-building tactics, or employing other shrewd approaches, such as the gamification of the storefront and games library.

A cultural shift slowly follows this phenomenon as well. Increasingly, it is considered moral and right to pay individually for what we consume, with sharing becoming less common. In the past, it was customary to pass game cartridges and books to friends to borrow. Now, we have to pay just to borrow a movie for two days. This shift reflects a broader acceptance of the idea that each content or service has its price, reinforcing the subscription and DRM models as standard practice. It won’t be hard to further entrench the concept of ownership tied to individual identity, especially with the potential of Single Sign-On (SSO) and blockchain technologies.

However, "ownership" is becoming a loose term, as much of what we pay for now is access rather than actual ownership. Legally and practically speaking, access to digital content isn't guaranteed forever. Companies can rise and fall, taking their data with them. They can lose licenses for the data, resulting in the removal of content, as seen with streaming services. This precarious nature of digital ownership underscores the volatility inherent in modern digital consumption.

However, there remains an unexplored potential for generating novel subscription services. Gradually introducing new offerings contributes to normalising the subscription concept. Over time, this could lead to a scenario where companies seamlessly integrate subscriptions into almost every facet of our lives.

For instance, consider the trajectory of home automation and the Internet of Things (IoT). As household items evolve into interconnected entities equipped with advanced capabilities, subscription services could become intrinsic to their functionality. Imagine a scenario where your refrigerator ensures timely maintenance through a subscription service and offers personalised meal planning and grocery assistance. While some refrigerators on the market are already inching towards this notion, the potential extends even further. Similarly, envision your car arriving with a subscription package that encompasses predictive maintenance, real-time traffic updates, and access to premium entertainment content. This reality is already emerging to some extent, but these practices are still met with some resistance, possibly only because we aren’t used to the idea yet.

Amazon's Alexa serves as a pertinent illustration of the expanding subscription trend. Originating as a voice-activated assistant, Alexa's evolution includes the introduction of subscription-based services like Amazon Music Unlimited and Audible. This exemplifies the potential for gradual expansion into realms that were previously deemed unconventional for subscription models. As customers embrace one subscription, they become susceptible to additional offerings as their provider widens its scope, thereby fostering brand loyalty and discouraging multi-brand consumption due to reduced interconnectivity between services.

The evolution towards subscription-based models is an adaptive journey that mirrors technological advancements, and we are merely at the precipice of its potential. With the proliferation of IoT in our living spaces, the feasibility of incorporating subscription services into various devices becomes increasingly tangible. If we aren’t careful, we could eventually find ourselves paying for the privilege of clean air and a ridiculous bed that adjusts its temperature to our preferences while collecting data on our breathing patterns throughout the night.

Where’s the sunshine?

I know, right? I’m all doom and gloom today. However, there's a rationale behind this perspective. While the scenarios I’ve put forth might not come to fruition, they aren't unfounded conjectures. However, their likelihood diminishes if we take proactive measures to prevent them. This might appear evident, but taking action is imperative — we can't simply stand idly by and anticipate the world to become a better place on its own.