For many of us, the ability to make contactless payments via our mobile phone is a relatively new experience and one we’re still wrapping our heads around; So imagine how two Brits felt after making a transaction using a completely new, mind-blowing form of technology. .

It was the same for travel couple Ben and Reanne (@otwd_travel), who are currently holidaying in China; Progress here is clearly further ahead than back home in the UK. In a clip shared with his 54,000 followers, Ben walked into a small convenience store and said: “That’s how advanced the cashless payment system is in this country.”

He wandered around the store, grabbed a bag of Lays’ Wasabi-flavored chips and a bottle of water, and then went to the register to demonstrate the technology in question. After his belongings were scanned, Ben continued: “I’m going to pay for this now but I left my phone and card at home so I don’t really have anything.”

He then placed his hand on the small scanner on the counter and the scanner immediately took his payment. “Palm payment,” he said in surprise, causing the shop owner to laugh in response.

“How crazy?” he asked Reanne as they parted. “This country blows my mind!” added Ben. “I paid with my palm!”

Ben then explained how he configured the payment method. “You register your palm – I did this with WeChat (Chinese instant messaging app) earlier today. Set up your card and you can pay with your palm print wherever you are in the world,” he said. Reanne added: “We were told it was about the ships there – how clever is that? It’s literally one of the best things I’ve ever seen.”

But his followers were skeptical about the “controlling” aspect of the technology. “This system is much worse than you think” tiktok the user claimed. “Have you heard of social points?”

The second claimed: “So the government knows everything you buy.” The third put forward the following theory: “Yes this is not good at all, cashless society means complete control over the public, which means the government can control all aspects, especially when it introduces the carbon points system.”

A fourth warned: “What happens if your biometrics are stolen and hacked? I work in IT. Imagine stolen information. Hackers can simulate crackdowns.”

GMA Marketing explains the technology in more detail: “Once signed up on the WeChat app, customers simply place their hand over the scanner to initiate a transaction.

“The advantage of contactless payment over other authentication methods, such as fingerprint recognition, is its superior hygiene since there is no physical contact during the payment process or authentication process.”

It adds: “The merchant generates a QR code for the customer to scan using the WeChat app. The customer can complete payment after scanning the merchant’s QR code. This mobile payment method is used for purchases in physical stores, websites and media advertising.”