Before I start making my point, I just want you to take a good look at the image above.
If I had a dime for all the times that I have seen a message like this, I would be already a millionaire by now.
Look, I know Medium will probably not like this article and they won’t push it to their readers, because we want to keep everyone thinking they’re happy, right?
The truth of the matter is that there is a secret war going on in this new technology age that we live in.
World’s Division
I know you have heard it before but let me say it just once as a reminder:
“Third World Country”
Sound’s familiar now? Well, that’s because whoever is on top has decided to divide the world into these classes, (not related to school).
They have put the U.S. along with the majority of the European Union countries in the First World basket while the rest of us can eat each other’s limbs for all they care.
One of the problems occurring with this kind of division is the different types of rights and privileges.
For example, in the U.S., you can easily set up Facebook Payments, Apple Pay, listen to music on Spotify, order stuff on Amazon without paying crazy shipping fees, and so forth.
The same is not true when it comes to other, 2nd and 3rd World countries, (I’ma keep using those terms just so these arrogant capitalists who have invented them can understand me better, okay? good.)
The Truth Hidden Behind Struggling Businesses
Now, if you live in a country like mine, Albania, Eastern Europe, you won’t come across these kinds of problems, unless you are looking to get into online business.
Well, you might see a YouTube video here and there blocked for this country but that’s it.
However, if you suddenly get the motivation to jump into the online business world, man o man better is prepared to go 100 miles plus the length that an average American would go.
Let’s start with Medium itself…
Medium’s Partnership Program Uneligible in Many Countries.
As most of you reading this already know, Medium writers get paid for their stories.
However, not all of them can get discovered or paid for all that matters.
That’s because Medium’s Partnership Program is not eligible in all countries. When I first tried to jump on this golden opportunity because I love writing, I was faced with the same old page that I have been seeing way back when Spotify wouldn’t even load in Albania.
Now, of course, I am a stubborn guy, and I tried again with a VPN and a Payoneer account to set everything up. But not everyone has this chance.
There are many splendid writers’ that I know, that could easily surpass an American Medium writer, however, they are stuck working a 9 to 5 because companies like Medium simply decided to keep the 3rd world countries out of their privileged zone.
Let’s proceed with Shopify… no, no, the whole e-commerce sector is better.
The Unspoken Truth About E-Commerce From 3rd World Countries
Funny, the more I say it (3rd world) the less of a winner I feel for some reason. Anyway…
Everyone knows that one of the best ways to make money online is by selling stuff online. Yet, when it comes to practice, trust me, e-commerce is a real nightmare for some countries.
Let’s break it down:
Shopify Payments
Now, in the U.S. and some other E.U. countries, setting up a Shopify store is the easiest thing you could do.
I am trying to do the same in Albania, and the results are not what you think they are.
I set up a beautiful store, created the website, bought the domain, installed the useful apps, and all of that to the last detail.
The problem? Shopify Payments are inexistent here.
Skrill refused my application based on my region.
Now I am left with a couple of applications from untrusty, third-party providers who are too lazy to even answer my question: “Why is my application still in review?”
If you go to my store, you will see that the only buying option you have as a customer, is Paypal.
Speaking of which…
Paypal’s Withdraw Nightmare
It does make sense that they allow us to charge you only with Paypal.
After all, if you have an Albanian Paypal account and you receive some funds, your money will be frozen for like 40 days before you can touch them.
Speaking from experience. As a freelancer on Upwork, I once received $200 on my Paypal and those funds were unavailable for withdrawing.
When I asked the operator on the phone, they confirmed that this was a regular procedure applied to accounts opened by 3rd World countries.
How convenient Elon?
Shut all of us outside of society out of the fear that we might become better because being hungry is in our nature.
But let’s not forget Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and Elon Musk’s main competitor.
Amazon Shipping Is Overpriced and Selling On Amazon Impossible
In the U.S. or an E.U. country, you can order on Amazon what you want to order, and receive it within 3 or 4 days maximum with a shipping fee of up to $7.
Not here in Albania though.
You can’t buy a damn book without a shipping fee of $25 or higher.
Sh*t is ridiculous.
And don’t get me started with Amazon Selling Central. Time-wasting.
I remember, setting it up a couple of years ago because I wanted to sell my book on Kindle.
After all the signs ups and all the procedures, boom:
“Your country is ineligible to receive payments from Amazon. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.”
Damn, Jeffrie, why you had to do me like that holmes?
Do you have any idea how much time I spent writing that poetry book in English?
But, I guess nobody cares to read stuff produced by a 3rd World content creator.
And if they do, they will pay you pennies for all your hard work, because to them, this is a privilege for you. Pathetic.
Okay, now I remember how I was going to close this… YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Yes, let’s include all the socials in one basket just like they did with us.
The Mediocre Payments & Half Functional Ad Accounts
I have never been on YouTube to create content but I know people who have. And based on their experience, the YouTube payments for a country like Albania are plainly disgusting.
Getting paid pennies for three months worth of work, only to then collect $200 which don’t even cover your new glasses… SINCE YOU LITERALLY BLINDED YOURSELF EDITING VIDEOS FOR HOURS ON END.
Anyway… that’s the bitter truth folks. The game is rigged.
Countries like ours get shoved around as we all have to shovel the sh*t that these conglomerates have created.
Conglomerates like Facebook, which would rather rob you and block your ad account than let you share your content like everyone else.
Facebook and Instagram Ad Scams
We all know that Mark Suckerberg, pun intended, is one kind of social media dictator, but did you know he is also a scammer?
Don’t believe me? Come to Albania, open a Facebook page, run a couple of ads, and watch your ad account get blocked.
Why? Because they said so.
Or how about setting up Instagram Payments for you to sell your goods since you have worked hard to build a reputation for yourself.
Read my lips: (whispers, “ineligible”)
The same word that has politely divided the internet into privileged and hopeless.
Final Thoughts
I think Albania as a country is amazing. We have some political problems with corruption, the tax system is effed up and many things here simply don’t work.
And I am not blaming the U.S. for it. It’s our fault…
But please, can these billionaires that own these companies give us a break, or at the very least a fair trade with the rest of the world.
I mean, I just want to set up a business bro. Why make me go double the lengths to buy a VPN and use virtual bank accounts in Ireland for me just to be equal with the rest.
And we are not the only ones. Here you have a list of countries that are kind of banned from using these services and more (like GoFundMe):
- Ukraine
- Belarus
- Kosovo
- Montenegro
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Republic of North Macedonia
- India
- Pakistan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Liberia
… and you can guess the rest.
My only question is:
Will we ever have equal rights about these simple ‘privileges’?
PS: To anyone in the U.S reading this, you are truly blessed. Give thanks for what you have and I hope to see you soon.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Jurgen Shperdhea(Author)