A recent experience has raised questions about the value of digital downloads offered by companies like Facebook, Amazon, and others. For instance, Facebook has begun selling Oculus, which allows users to download games and exercise programs that utilize 3D glasses.

If you spend hundreds of dollars on an Oculus, you spend more money for  games. If you decide  to quit or get suspended from Facebook or Instagram, you would lose access to the games you spent your money on. In other words, you’re effectively throwing your money away.

The issue is that companies like Facebook and Amazon do not clearly inform users that they will lose access to their games or books if you quit or get suspended from the service. When you purchase an item from a bookstore or any other store, you retain the right to keep it because you have paid for it. So, why should we risk losing our money on digital downloads when we don’t get to keep them?

Companies should clarify that when you purchase from their websites, you’re essentially renting the content. If you choose not to return to their site, you won’t have access to what you paid for. This transparency might make people think twice before spending their money on digital downloads from those websites. Without concert proof, they will let you keep items after you purchase them.