Prepare for the erosion of parental control and the rise of reckless, unregulated transportation for teens, courtesy of Waymo’s latest “innovation”.
In a move that reeks of corporate disregard for children’s safety and well-being, Waymo is planning to launch a subscription program that will allow teenagers to hail rides without adult supervision, sending only “pickup and drop-off alerts” to their oblivious parents. The “Waymo Teen” program, which has already received lukewarm feedback, is being peddled as a solution for parents too busy or too lazy to lift a finger for their children. A staggering $150 to $250 per month for up to 16 rides – a small price to pay for the convenience of surrendering your child’s safety and privacy to corporate greed.
When questioned about the program, a Waymo spokesperson shamelessly dodged any real concerns about teen safety, citing “promising feedback from research” and pretending that 16-year-olds can make informed decisions about their own transportation. Because, clearly, what could possibly go wrong when handing over the keys to the company of an untested and potentially unsafe ride-hailing system?
But Waymo isn’t alone in its quest for teenage profit. Uber, the company infamous for prioritizing profits over people, has already begun matching 13-to-17-year-olds with drivers it claims are “highly rated” – a rating that, might I add, can be easily gamed. With no regulatory oversight and parental consent the only requirement, Uber has opened the floodgates to a new era of reckless transportation and unscrupulous corporate profiteering.
