Holiday Tech Giving

This time last year I wrote an article, “’Tis the season for gifting gadgets”. In it I outlined a few strategies for holiday technology giving to save money and avoid contributing to the millions of tonnes of e-waste generated every year. All that advice still stands.

With the holidays upon us again, here’s a few more pieces of advice if you’re thinking about buying technology as a gift for one of your loved ones or navigating the world of online gift buying.

Watch out for subscriptions – for better or worse

If you’re buying a gadget for someone, make sure to double check that it doesn’t require a subscription to be fully functional. Increasingly, smart devices come with strings attached, like key features not working without a subscription. Make sure to read any fine print before you purchase a smart device and be sure to understand if there are any ongoing costs for subscription features.

On the other hand, if your loved one has a subscription to something, consider making your gift a contribution to that ongoing cost.

Accessorize

If someone you know has a piece of tech they are never without, check out what accessories are available for their device of choice. Are they always dropping their phone? Spring for a durable case to cushion those falls, or a phone grip attachment. Do they use their tablet for recipes while cooking or baking? A stand to keep it up off the counter might be a welcome gift. Always on the hunt for their keys, wallet, or other small annoyingly-easy-to-misplace item? Consider one of the many GPS tags for finding those lost items.

Keep in mind that accessories can be device specific, even down to the model, so you may want to consider spoiling the surprise and checking in with your prospective gift recipient on what their specific needs are.

Social media ads can be good inspiration – but do your homework

There are many independent artisans out there that reach customers through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Buying from small businesses through their online store is a great way to support artists and makers, and to find that one of a kind gift. Unfortunately, there’s also a ton of junk Instagram and Facebook ads featuring products that don’t live up to their Instagrammable photo, or that are completely fake. I’ve come across more than one ad where a little extra searching revealed that the image was AI generated and the product didn’t actually exist.

If you see the perfect gift in a photo on a social media platform, open a browser and search for the company using your search engine of choice. Check their website and online reviews to make sure that they are who they say they are. Not clicking on that ad and doing a little extra investigation will ensure that you get what you are expecting, and that your money supports a business you can trust. As a bonus, many artisans who sell their products online will offer alternative arrangements for local pickup.

Consider a tech-adjacent option

If you have someone in your life who enjoys using technology and learning about technology, there are lots of options that aren’t a device or software or app that might still be appealing. For the readers out there, books can open a window to a variety of technology topics whether learning about a topic like coding or robotics, learning about the history or social impact of technology, or exploring science and technology through fiction.

There are also plenty of technology themed items like clothes and toys. If your loved one has a favourite YouTuber or TikTok personality, odds are they have a merchandise store with all sorts of goodies. Again, buyer beware. You’ll want to check reviews from people who have purchased from a particular store and ensure that when you do spend your money that you’re getting what you expect.

Finally, beware of online scams during the holiday shopping season. With a deluge of marketing emails, order confirmations, shipping notifications, and the like, it’s very easy in a moment of distraction to click on a link in a malicious email. When in doubt, navigate directly to the retailer you’ve been shopping at and login to your account to track purchases and review charges.

Hopefully you’ll find some of this advice helpful as you safely and thoughtfully cross items off your gift giving list this season.

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