Precarity is a defining feature of contemporary informational society under global capitalism. While most scholars focus on labor precarization, some highlight broader precarity in living conditions. A key issue today is urban precarity in large metropolitan areas. This article explores precarity in “smart cities” through three sociological lenses: epistemic violence and institutional gaslighting; social inclusion and exclusion; and nostalgia and retrotopia. The analysis draws on studies from the US, Europe, India, Brazil, and Singapore. It concludes that despite the normative appeal of the smart city paradigm, it often overlooks or disregards the needs of marginalized social groups.

Keywords:

• sociological urban studies;
  
• smart city;
  
• precarity of life;
  
• social inclusion/exclusion;
  
• institutional gaslighting;
  
• nostalgia.