Flipping the kill switch: I survived 72 hours without US tech

Living without American technology for 72 hours in Brussels revealed the extent to which Europeans rely on U.S. tools in their daily lives. The experiment began with the silence of no notifications on a Nokia dumbphone, symbolizing the withdrawal from screens that many Europeans have embraced. However, the absence of notifications quickly gave way to feelings of helplessness and FOMO (fear of missing out) as the world kept moving without the reporter's input.

Despite the challenges posed by a lack of notifications and social media, the reporter found some benefits, such as being able to engage in voice-only calls without distraction. The experiment also highlighted how deeply ingrained U.S. technology is, even in seemingly mundane tasks like shopping and paying for goods. Payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, along with online streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, all run on U.S.-controlled systems, making everyday activities much more difficult without access to these services.

In conclusion, while the reporter's 72-hour experiment provided insight into the vulnerabilities of European dependence on American technology, it also underscored the difficulty of cutting oneself off from these tools. Ultimately, the reporter learned that living without U.S. tech essentially means living without much of the modern technological world.