As a university student nearing the end of the fall semester, it dawned on me that the once-free resources we used to get as students are no longer available.
Studying is one of the most crucial parts of the university experience. Using tools like Quizlet or other digital study platforms minimizes the time spent creating flashcards or skimming through weeks of lecture notes.
The reality is that none of these apps is free anymore. All are trapped behind an endless paywall, no longer available to students.
Quizlet, Gizmo, Grammarly, and AnkiFlashcards offer premium plans that unlock features such as practice quizzes, flashcards, study games, and more. The price of studying has now become a tool of capitalist exploitation, where money-hungry companies take advantage of students who support their apps.
Creativity has also become a corporate scam. Apps like Canva and CapCut, which offer creators free services to edit videos, posters, or create presentations, are charging enormous fees for their premium services.
I recall using CapCut when it first launched in partnership with TikTok. It was a cost-effective app that beginner content creators or editors could use to make and upload videos. The app was a better alternative to editing apps like Premiere Pro that charge well over $100 to use their services.
The days of free services for society’s members seem to be over. App creators are uninterested in catering to their users. Most importantly, with the emergence of AI apps and websites, university students are turning to ChatGPT to study because it’s free; however, it has a limit on the number of questions you can ask.
Even digital notebooks have begun charging fees to use their services. GoodNotes, a popular note-taking app, charges students to use more than one notebook.
For the fall semester, I found an app called Freenotes, which allowed students to upload unlimited notes and create and use digital notebooks. Recently, the app’s creator began charging premium prices and limiting the number of documents students can upload. This is just one of many examples of companies exploiting their loyal customers for profit.
The drastic change in affordability for students is quite disappointing—and, sad to say, the least. As a university student, the constant pressure from classes, tuition, food and even transportation takes a great financial toll, and studying shouldn’t be one of those factors.
People can argue that traditional studying works the same way, and maybe even better, but students need fast, efficient ways to understand concepts and retain information to do well on exams. Also, learning doesn’t come easily for some students — some need visualization, and others need oral communication. For many, technology is crucial to aid in their learning, and monetizing this resource can discourage students.
If you’re a university student facing these same struggles, know you’re not alone.