Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

Walmart wants to connect what people stream "directly with retail interaction."

Ars Technica

Just use an AppleTV, Roku, etc. and connect it to the HDMI port.

TV is just a screen. That is how I've used mine for the last 5+ years.

It won't be "just a screen" for much longer if people continue paying for TVs that do this bullshit.

Can you even buy 'just a screen'? We have huge (100"+) screens in the office, they cost A LOT. full of spam, apps, ads, popups. It doesnt even swithc to hdmi or what ever you input automatically, you need to select the screen mode orso.

The local electronics chain has 50-100 different TV's. All are 'smart'.

I would be ok with classifying this as a crime against humanity. /s

But honestly, I've just given up. I don't watch tv or movies or stream anymore, because it's all the same bullshit

Sceptre used to sell dumb TVs but they seem to be exiting the marketplace. Computer monitors and digital signage may be your best bet. You'll have to save up for 'em but that was true of TV sets back in the day too.
Sceptre still has a bunch of dumb TVs on their site. I used to be all in on them, but I bought one that had the backlight go out after only two years, and their answer was "lol buy a new one"

I meant, I treat the TV as "just a screen."

Set the input to "HDMI-1" or whatever my Roku is connected to, and that's the last thing I touch on the TV remote.