Why is my iPhone making me add a payment method to download apps?

Ugh, why does my iPhone always make me add a payment method? Seriously, I just want a free weather app, is that too much to ask?! It's so annoying, right? I mean, I get it technically, they say it's to verify my Apple ID. Something about confirming my account and location. Makes sense, I guess, in a "big corporation protecting itself" kind of way.

But last week, I tried to download a free meditation app – something super chill to help me unwind, you know? – and it still wouldn't let me until I'd added my credit card. It's like, okay, Apple, I'm not buying anything, I swear! I'm just trying to listen to rain sounds before bed! Don't they trust me? I even tried messing around with the payment settings – saw that "None" option a few people mentioned online – but no luck. It's always the same story. I swear I've spent hours Googling it!

Maybe it’s just to stop kids from racking up in-app purchases without their parents knowing? I dunno. That’s what my brother always says happened to his friend’s kid, spent like, a hundred bucks on virtual sheep or something ridiculous. So maybe there’s a good reason behind the madness, buried somewhere under layers of frustrating pop-ups. Still, it's a pain. A total and utter pain in the neck.