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==Examples==
==Examples==
*[[Samsung]] and [[Google]] both deliberately limit what the user can do on the [[wikipedia:Galaxy_Store|Galaxy Store]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do I Need a Samsung Account to Download Galaxy Store Apps? |url=https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/apps-services/do-i-need-a-samsung-account-to-download-an-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228134531/https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/apps-services/do-i-need-a-samsung-account-to-download-an-app/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Samsung UK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Adamya |date=2024-09-25 |title=A Samsung account is now mandatory to access the Galaxy Store |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-account-galaxy-store-access-3484730/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007130724/https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-account-galaxy-store-access-3484730 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Play Store]]{{Citation needed}}, respectively. Most features (such as updating and installing apps) are either completely blocked, or hidden from the main [[wikipedia:User_interface|UI]], nagging the user into signing-in to unlock the "extra" features.{{Citation needed}}


*[[Samsung]] and [[Google]] both deliberately limit what the user can do on the [[wikipedia:Galaxy_Store|Galaxy Store]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do I Need a Samsung Account to Download Galaxy Store Apps? |url=https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/apps-services/do-i-need-a-samsung-account-to-download-an-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228134531/https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/apps-services/do-i-need-a-samsung-account-to-download-an-app/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Samsung UK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Adamya |date=2024-09-25 |title=A Samsung account is now mandatory to access the Galaxy Store |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-account-galaxy-store-access-3484730/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007130724/https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-account-galaxy-store-access-3484730 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Play Store]]{{Citation needed}}, respectively. Most features (such as updating and installing apps) are either completely blocked, or hidden from the main [[wikipedia:User_interface|UI]], nagging the user into signing-in to unlock the "extra" features.{{Citation needed}}
*[[LG]] mandates login to download (and update) apps on smart TVs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Aug 2015 |title=Can't sign in to LG account on TV |url=https://www.avforums.com/threads/cant-sign-in-to-lg-account-on-tv.1973633/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250405170128/https://www.avforums.com/threads/cant-sign-in-to-lg-account-on-tv.1973633/ |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=avforums}}</ref>
*[[LG]] mandates login to download (and update) apps on smart TVs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Aug 2015 |title=Can't sign in to LG account on TV |url=https://www.avforums.com/threads/cant-sign-in-to-lg-account-on-tv.1973633/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250405170128/https://www.avforums.com/threads/cant-sign-in-to-lg-account-on-tv.1973633/ |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=avforums}}</ref>
*[[Windows 11]] requires to log in with a [[Microsoft]] account in order to configure and use the operating system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2025-08-17 |title=Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817084049/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1#expand |archive-date=2025-08-17 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Microsoft Corporation}}</ref>
*[[Windows 11]] requires to log in with a [[Microsoft]] account in order to configure and use the operating system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2025-08-17 |title=Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817084049/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1#expand |archive-date=2025-08-17 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Microsoft Corporation}}</ref>
*Many social-media apps (both web and native), (such as: [[Meta|Facebook]], [[Instagram]], [[X Corp|Twitter/X]], [[Pinterest]], etc...) are well-known for nagging users that aren't logged-in.{{Citation needed}} Instagram is a especially anti-consumer example, as it deliberately nags users even if they disabled [[JavaScript]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernández Serrata |first=Ricardo |date=2025-08-16 |title=GTFO "meta Inc." |url=https://github.com/Rudxain/uBO-rules/pull/9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317064359/https://github.com/Rudxain/uBO-rules/pull/9 |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=GitHub}}</ref> going as far as blocking access to any media (images, videos and "reels") after the user has watched a few of them.<ref>https://mashable.com/article/instagram-requires-log-in-to-view-profiles</ref><ref>https://thenextweb.com/news/instagram-now-forces-people-to-sign-in-to-view-public-profiles</ref>
*Many social-media apps (both web and native), (such as: [[Meta|Facebook]], [[Instagram]], [[X Corp|Twitter/X]], [[Pinterest]], etc...) are well-known for nagging users that aren't logged-in.{{Citation needed}} Instagram is a especially anti-consumer example, as it deliberately nags users even if they disabled [[JavaScript]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernández Serrata |first=Ricardo |date=2025-08-16 |title=GTFO "meta Inc." |url=https://github.com/Rudxain/uBO-rules/pull/9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317064359/https://github.com/Rudxain/uBO-rules/pull/9 |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=GitHub}}</ref> going as far as blocking access to any media (images, videos and "reels") after the user has watched a few of them.<ref>https://mashable.com/article/instagram-requires-log-in-to-view-profiles</ref><ref>https://thenextweb.com/news/instagram-now-forces-people-to-sign-in-to-view-public-profiles</ref>
*[[Discord]] doesn't even allow viewing public guilds, unless the user has logged-in. This is especially bad for archival purposes, since they aggressively block "self-bot" accounts unless the bot has been officially registered.<ref>https://discord.com/guidelines</ref>
*[[Discord]] doesn't even allow viewing public guilds, unless the user has logged-in. This is especially bad for archival purposes, since they aggressively block "self-bot" accounts unless the bot has been officially registered.<ref>https://discord.com/guidelines</ref>
*[[Canon]] began requiring an online account to use their [[Canon Camera Connect]] app as of version 3.4.0 in April 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canon Inc. |first= |title=Canon ID make Canon products and services more convenient and enjoyable for you |url=https://app.ssw.imaging-saas.canon/app/en/canon-id.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312004658/https://app.ssw.imaging-saas.canon/app/en/canon-id.html |archive-date=2026-03-12 |access-date=10 May 2026}}</ref> despite the app's image transfer feature and remote shutter control, operates purely over direct Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to the camera respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Neil |date=26 Nov 2024 |title=The coming enshittification of Canon Camera Connect |url=https://neilturner.me.uk/2024/11/26/the-coming-enshittification-of-canon-camera-connect/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 May 2026}}</ref>
==See also==
==See also==


Latest revision as of 06:18, 11 May 2026

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An article may be flagged as a stub when it is missing major elements needed to make it useful to a reader. You can help by adding missing sections, verifiable sources, relevant company policies and communications, etc. to make the article more complete.

Forced account registration/sign-in/log-in is a practice committed by entities, where users must have (and use) a digital identity to perform simple tasks that may have otherwise been possible without any sort of identifiers.

Because forced accounts generally means anonymity is technically possible, entities that engage in this practice have little reason to do so outside of personal gain. They may find it favorable for several reasons, including:

  1. Identification and tracking of users - often accomplished through device identifiers, location information, and network connection.[citation needed]
  2. Increased digital integration - more integrating means more sharing data with payment processors, ad providers, and more.[citation needed]
  3. Increased centralization and dependency on big companies - further consolidates power and wealth into large companies, such as the tech companies who own the authentication servers, as well as payment processors. While not all user identification mechanisms need centralization, most corporations tend to prefer centralization.[citation needed]

Examples

[edit | edit source]
  • LG mandates login to download (and update) apps on smart TVs.[3]
  • Many social-media apps (both web and native), (such as: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Pinterest, etc...) are well-known for nagging users that aren't logged-in.[citation needed] Instagram is a especially anti-consumer example, as it deliberately nags users even if they disabled JavaScript,[5] going as far as blocking access to any media (images, videos and "reels") after the user has watched a few of them.[6][7]
  • Discord doesn't even allow viewing public guilds, unless the user has logged-in. This is especially bad for archival purposes, since they aggressively block "self-bot" accounts unless the bot has been officially registered.[8]
  • Canon began requiring an online account to use their Canon Camera Connect app as of version 3.4.0 in April 2025[9] despite the app's image transfer feature and remote shutter control, operates purely over direct Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to the camera respectively.[10]

See also

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ "Do I Need a Samsung Account to Download Galaxy Store Apps?". Samsung UK. Archived from the original on 2026-02-28. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  2. ↑ Sharma, Adamya (2024-09-25). "A Samsung account is now mandatory to access the Galaxy Store". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  3. ↑ "Can't sign in to LG account on TV". avforums. 8 Aug 2015. Archived from the original on 5 Apr 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  4. ↑ Microsoft Corporation (2025-08-17). "Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements". Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on 2025-08-17. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  5. ↑ Fernández Serrata, Ricardo (2025-08-16). "GTFO "meta Inc."". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  6. ↑ https://mashable.com/article/instagram-requires-log-in-to-view-profiles
  7. ↑ https://thenextweb.com/news/instagram-now-forces-people-to-sign-in-to-view-public-profiles
  8. ↑ https://discord.com/guidelines
  9. ↑ Canon Inc. "Canon ID make Canon products and services more convenient and enjoyable for you". Archived from the original on 2026-03-12. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Turner, Neil (26 Nov 2024). "The coming enshittification of Canon Camera Connect". Retrieved 10 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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