explainer · general · evergreen
America Keeps Rejecting an ID Card It Already Has
CGP Grey · Mar 29, 2017 · 7m 49s
What this video covers
CGP Grey explains the history of the US Social Security card and number, and why they became a de facto national ID despite never being meant for it. He also covers why America resists a proper identity card.
Why it surfaced in Hacker News
HN reaches for it in every identity theft and data breach thread as the clearest, most enjoyable short explainer of why SSNs make bad identifiers.
- 14
- distinct recommenders
- 9
- recommendation months
- 2
- strong recommendations
Recommendation context
Short excerpts from positive mentions. Open the source to read the full Hacker News discussion.
“this is the most enjoyable explanation for it I've seen, by CGP Grey”
“He also explains why US citizens don't have an Identity Card as opposed to many European countries.”
“A short (< 8 min) video by the ever informative CGP Grey on the inanity of US SS cards.”