The real cost of free

Nothing is ever for free. Education and health services are not free – that’s where our taxes are going. Social services are not free either – again, tick the taxes box. A long lost Nigerian friend asking for your visa number so that he can transfer three zillion dollars straight into your bank account, at zero cost? That’s right. And if you’re at the departures lounge and someone gives you something for free, call the police.

In much the same way, there’s no such thing as free internet. True, you don’t pay directly for most content. But then, you’re paying a connection free. Social media is free? Yes, but that’s only a first impression.

Just consider that, with every status update that you post, you’re giving away priceless personal information, which in turn will be used for marketing purposes. And that’s a euphemism for getting into your pocket.

As for freemium, well, the name says it all – it’s free but at a premium. The idea is to get you interested in a free service, such as file-sharing software. And then, when you’re hooked, it’s slapped with a price tag.

The same goes for free apps. You get the basic game for free – and by free, we mean riddled with annoying adverts. And then, when you complete the game, you suddenly find that there are hidden levels and characters – but to gain access, you have to pay. The alternative would be to amass a million credits, which you get by spending endless hours watching promotional videos.

And time, let’s just remind you, is never free.