Kiosks with outlets to charge your phones and free Wi-Fi began emerging in New York City earlier this year to replace outdated phone booths, but there have been many unintended consequences.[1] For example, these kiosks have become hotspots for groups to gather and partake in activities involving drinking and drugs.[2] In addition, homeless individuals have been found to gather around these stations to take advantage of the amenities to charge their devices and stream videos or partake in other pastimes.[3] Modern smartphones have a tendency to have a short battery life due to the numerous applications that are constantly running on them, and individuals are often reliant on the maps features on their phones to get from point A to point B. Therefore, when a person’s phone inevitably dies throughout the course of the day, they are required to find somewhere with an outlet where he can charge his phone and continue on with his day. The kiosks were intended to serve as places where people can charge their phone for a few minutes or connect to the Wi-Fi to check directions without using all of their allotted data for the month.[4] However, the internet browser features have been disabled from these kiosks until a solution is determined to deal with the unintended consequences.[5] One possible alternative would be to add a time limit to the Wi-Fi connection and require individuals to reconnect after the allotted time. However, while this would be an inconvenience for people, it would not completely solve the problem since people could continue using the Wi-Fi.
[1] Patrick McGeehan, Free Wi-Fi Kiosks Were to Aid New Yorkers. An Unsavory Side Has Spurred a Retreat, N.Y. Times (Sept. 14, 2016), http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/nyregion/internet-browsers-to-be-disabled-on-new-yorks-free-wi-fi-kiosks.html?_r=0.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.