"Once scanned, the QR code directs the smartphone to the advert lasting a few seconds. When the ad's finished, the machine dispenses about six squares of paper - and if people want more, they have to watch more ads. Alternatively, they can pay 0.5 Chinese RMB (about 5p) to get their toilet paper without having to watch an ad. But this still requires people to tap away at their phone and make payment digitally."
"On Reddit, the futuristic-looking technology has been branded 'dystopian', 'sick' and 'a vision of hell' by commentators. One person said: 'I would be the first to punch and disassemble those machines, or come back with a screwdriver later.' Another posted: 'this would make me become one of those people that smear their own s*** on the bathroom wall.' A third Reddit user called it 'a sh***y thing to do', while a fourth said 'society is really going down the toilet'."
A toilet paper dispenser in China requires smartphone users to scan a QR code and watch a short advertisement before dispensing about six squares of paper. Users can pay 0.5 Chinese RMB to bypass the ad but must still make a digital payment. Additional paper requires watching further ads. The dispenser appears in the communal area, so users must obtain paper before entering cubicles. The device is reportedly intended to reduce paper usage. Online commentators reacted with anger, threats of vandalism and descriptions of the setup as dystopian and socially degrading. Critics warned it could leave users short during use and strain full bladders.
Read at Mail Online
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