Pre-internet there was a certain amount of natural limit on how much bullshit one could spread, because you had to print physical newspapers and find distributors, which meant that you had to have a name and a business address people could find you at.
With 2000s Internet this limiter was removed, but counterbalanced by everyone being able to present their own side for the marketplace of ideas.
Now in 2025 we’re in the worst of both worlds, where a tiny number of trillion-dollar companies control 98% of Internet traffic and are making it clear that they have no qualms abusing that power to shape public discourse.
Only in the same way that you could always write your own newsletter and hand it out in the street. I feel like you’re wilfully missing the point there.
Big platforms have a lot of power. They need to control the content published for reasons ranging from following laws to pleasing advertisers. These decisions always have political implications.
Pre-internet there was a certain amount of natural limit on how much bullshit one could spread, because you had to print physical newspapers and find distributors, which meant that you had to have a name and a business address people could find you at.
With 2000s Internet this limiter was removed, but counterbalanced by everyone being able to present their own side for the marketplace of ideas.
Now in 2025 we’re in the worst of both worlds, where a tiny number of trillion-dollar companies control 98% of Internet traffic and are making it clear that they have no qualms abusing that power to shape public discourse.
You can still make your own website and publish whatever you like (local laws may apply).
Only in the same way that you could always write your own newsletter and hand it out in the street. I feel like you’re wilfully missing the point there.
Big platforms have a lot of power. They need to control the content published for reasons ranging from following laws to pleasing advertisers. These decisions always have political implications.
Yeah, the point is these fucks shouldn’t have ever been allowed to be this big in the first plar.