Audio By Carbonatix
The year is 2050. You’re old now and, like many elderly people, have reverted to the flavors of your youth. Rather than booze or coffee, when you shuffle to the kitchen, it’s for a glass of chocolate milk. That’s when you remember: you didn’t pay the subscription fee on your Samsung refrigerator. The only way to get it open is by watching a slew of advertisements first.
Then, and only then, will you get that glass of ice-cold milk sweetened with Hershey’s syrup or, just as likely (remember, you’re old), Ovaltine.
TikTok influencer Terminally Funny (@terminally.funny) put forth this scenario in a recent post. The post shows a man trying and failing to open a Samsung fridge. Its doors appear to be disabled.
The on-screen caption explains, “POV: it’s 2050 and you forgot to pay your Samsung fridge subscription fee so now you have to watch 67 unskippable ads to retrieve a glass of choccy milk.”
In the caption, Terminally Funny adds, “Samsung fridge ads are diabolical.” Terminally Funny didn’t respond to a direct message seeking comment.
This scenario is completely fiction, of course. There’s no such thing as a fridge, Samsung or otherwise, that requires a subscription to open it. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.
Perhaps that’s why the tech meme account’s post spread so far so fast. Since its Sept. 23 posting, it’s racked up 5 million views and over 2,000 comments.
One comment stands head and shoulders above the others.
“Taking notes,” Samsung New Zealand wrote from its verified account, along with two writing emoji and a half-smiling emoji.
The ‘Netflixification’ Of Life
Gen Z may not remember, but there was a time when you didn’t have to subscribe to programs like Microsoft Word. You simply bought it in CD form and installed it on your computer, where it lived indefinitely—no subscription necessary. The same was true of video games. You bought it, took it home, and it was yours forever. Or at least until it made its way to your buddy’s house, never to be seen or played again.
Widespread access to high-speed internet has allowed companies to make their programs subscription-based. This allows them to regularly issue updates and security patches. It also creates additional revenue. Companies know many of us cannot do our jobs or manage our households without their products. So every year, when that bill comes due, we’re going to begrudgingly click “pay it now.”
Terminally Funny’s joke about the subscription-based Samsung fridge resonated because many of us still remember the good ol’ days when Microsoft Office Suite came on a CD and “Netflixification” wasn’t invading the world of video games.
Are Subscription-Based Refrigerators The Future?
Appliance subscriptions aren’t the future. They’re the present.
In an April 2023 announcement about their business partnership, payments processor Stripe reported that Electrolux offers appliance subscriptions.
“Subscribers pick the appliance that fits their need, subscribe to a plan for a fixed monthly fee (starting from S$21.99/month for a washer dryer), and get the appliance delivered and set up within 48 hours,” Stripe reported. “They can upgrade the appliance or cancel the subscription at any time.”
They don’t, however, own the appliance. Nor is there an option for watching “67 unskippable ads” if you forget to pay your subscription.
Judging by the responses to Terminally Funny’s post, many people would still rather own their fridge.
“Stop it! This is so good!!! Also, delete this s— before they get any ideas,” wrote one.
Ami agreed, “DON’T GIVE THEM IDEAS!!!!!!!”
While people had quite a laugh in the comments, joking about Black Mirror and not being able to afford to open the fridge, at least one person pointed to a harsh reality.
“Not even a meme at this point. They got printers that won’t print without a subscription,” Ace said.
So there is a chance that 25 years from now, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a Samsung fridge watching a bunch of ads before you can gulp down that ice cold Ovaltine.