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this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Unlimited venture capital money for 20 years have allowed social media companies to basically do whatever they want without listening to their user base. It was good when they were trying to grow the user base. But now that they are trying to squeeze every dollar out, we're seeing the dark side.
Contrast this with old school media. They are mature and must turn a profit through their advertising. And they are absolutely terrified. Every TV show involves consultants who obsess over tiny details that could make the difference of half a ratings point. They know that if they scare the audience away, they go out of business.
Eventually the tech companies will reach the same level of maturity, but we're not there yet.
And the worse thing is, because the internet is so centralized now (dominated by just a few companies) people have almost nowhere to go back to. The worst thing tho, is how a lot of people simply don't care. They would rather keep the very slight convenience they have over getting rid of these corrupt companies.
Those who would trade essential liberty for convenience deserve neither.
What's the essential liberty here, shitposting?
The essential liberty is being able to use a device you own how you choose to use it, and not the rules for its use being dictated remotely by a giant corporation.
See: Google's Web Environment Integrity proposal.
The thing is, like the person I was responding to was pointing out, most people don't give one shit and don't pay attention to moves like these, because they prefer the convenience over caring about lack of personal agency in the equation.
See also: Reddit API protest, which most redditors didn't give one fucking shit about.
You joke, but yes, shitposting would absolutely be included as an essential liberty in an open and free internet.
Our god given right.