Joe Biden’s Awkward Phone Mockup Steals Thunder In Call For Honest Delivery Apps
By Mikelle Leow, 04 Mar 2024
Images via 158459921 © John Poltrack | Dreamstime.com and President Joe Biden
When President Joe Biden decided to tackle the sneaky issue of “drip pricing” head-on, little did he know that a peculiar phone graphic—truly putting the “oval” into the Oval Office—would steal the spotlight.
Drip pricing, a tactic where the initial low price of a service gets unexpectedly bloated with added fees at the point of checkout, has been under the Biden-Harris Administration’s microscope. By curbing these “junk fees” that not only surprise consumers but also distort the true cost of services, the government is looking to ensure transparency and fairness.
President Biden, in a recent social media blast, shed light on his administration’s crusade against these dark patterns. “Have you ever used a food delivery app to order a meal, but noticed a much higher-end price than when you started searching?” he asked on Saturday. “This is called ‘drip pricing’—and it adds up. My Administration is working to end this practice and other junk fees that rip consumers off.”
Have you ever used a food delivery app to order a meal, but noticed a much higher end price than when you started searching?
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 2, 2024
This is called “drip pricing” – and it adds up.
My Administration is working to end this practice and other junk fees that rip consumers off. pic.twitter.com/KaVvaYFkdM
Yet, the internet’s focus has drifted from the message’s gravity to the mockup used in the campaign. With its iPhone-esque interface but distinctly non-iPhone curves, the image left people tickled and puzzled, with some suggesting that POTUS had inadvertently leaked a future iPhone model.
How does this even happen https://t.co/WI9131dyrE pic.twitter.com/6ynPhQ7kS7
— Shea (@concept_central) March 2, 2024
“Forget drip pricing,” one person comments. “Who set the border radius of this phone to the radius of the sun?”
“There are templates for that, you know,” asserts another.
Joe: “What did they think of that drip pricing post?”
— Soren Iverson (@soren_iverson) March 2, 2024
Biden social team: “Well Mr. President, most of the replies were concerned at the… shape of the phone.”
Developer Dylan McDonald adds that device frames on the official Apple website are completely free, quipping, “How do you even make a mockup like this?”
Apple’s device frames are FREE
— ð ³ðð »ð °ð ½ (@DylanMcD8) March 2, 2024
How do you even make a mockup like this ð https://t.co/GpnyiEUxk0 https://t.co/MBMCK2VwKW pic.twitter.com/qUeZPIjrcb
“The White House just leaked the freaking iPhone 16,” notes a user on X (formerly Twitter).
While others argue that the graphic isn’t supposed to strike an association with brands, others point out that the screen clearly is of iOS stock.
Tim Cook after seeing this abomination: https://t.co/K77EkDUydi pic.twitter.com/3k4KMnTUiI
— Ankur Thakur (@iAnkurThakur) March 3, 2024
no one:
— System Settings (@app_settings) March 3, 2024
$20 iPhones on Ebay: https://t.co/XHqwwCGGTi pic.twitter.com/vqLPzV34M7
Jokes aside, the Biden-Harris administration seeks to dismantle a range of hidden charges that Americans face, from banking to entertainment, advocating for a marketplace where prices are upfront and fair.
Pushing for greater pricing transparency across various sectors means consumers can make more informed decisions and ensure they get what they pay for without unwelcome surprises.
Same energy https://t.co/qhSXf2cQqh pic.twitter.com/2eaBABAPld
— Eduardo (@iEddyRamirez) March 2, 2024
[via Joe Biden, images via various sources]