4 ms·

Youtube is like a business that uses the services of a power utility, like I do for home. I can go to another business, but likely neither me nor the business

Youtube is like a business that uses the services of a power utility, like I do for home. I can go to another business, but likely neither me nor the business can choose another power company. Also it is not the power company's fault if the business denies me access to merchandise in that business.

kypro 6y ago
What if I own a business that reports on the news in video format? I'm forced to use the services of YouTube as they're the only video hosting service with a global reach thanks to network effects. What if after 5 years of running a successful business on YouTube they decide they don't like my reporting on COVID-19 and ban my business from their service? Why should I care about net neutrality potentially limiting access to my website which only receives a few visits a day? The reality is it's far more damaging to an online business today to not have a high search ranking on Google and a good following on YouTube and Facebook -- without this you're invisible on the web, you may as well not exist.
- tenebrisalietum 6y ago
  Network effects are a form of compounding asset. It's possible to have a billion dollars, and use the interest on that money in the bank to do other things. If we don't consider this situation wrong, we can't consider network effects wrong. Also Youtube is not required to access anything needed for survival or civic functioning. No one is forcing those people to sign up for YouTube. There is nothing stopping anything from thinking long term, planting seeds, and creating their own network effects and getting people off of YouTube. > Why should I care about net neutrality potentially limiting access to my website which only receives a few visits a day? Above is why.
- amanaplanacanal 6y ago
  There are lots of ways to host video content that have global reach. What you don’t get is youtube’s discoverability. So you would have to be more creative about finding your audience.

kypro 6y ago

What if I own a business that reports on the news in video format? I'm forced to use the services of YouTube as they're the only video hosting service with a global reach thanks to network effects. What if after 5 years of running a successful business on YouTube they decide they don't like my reporting on COVID-19 and ban my business from their service? Why should I care about net neutrality potentially limiting access to my website which only receives a few visits a day? The reality is it's far more damaging to an online business today to not have a high search ranking on Google and a good following on YouTube and Facebook -- without this you're invisible on the web, you may as well not exist.

tenebrisalietum 6y ago
Network effects are a form of compounding asset. It's possible to have a billion dollars, and use the interest on that money in the bank to do other things. If we don't consider this situation wrong, we can't consider network effects wrong. Also Youtube is not required to access anything needed for survival or civic functioning. No one is forcing those people to sign up for YouTube. There is nothing stopping anything from thinking long term, planting seeds, and creating their own network effects and getting people off of YouTube. > Why should I care about net neutrality potentially limiting access to my website which only receives a few visits a day? Above is why.
amanaplanacanal 6y ago
There are lots of ways to host video content that have global reach. What you don’t get is youtube’s discoverability. So you would have to be more creative about finding your audience.