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Most people wouldn’t pay but some would pay a lot, in the form of donations. I can easily envision a world where Facebook was a nonprofit along the lines of Wi
by chongli 6y ago
Most people wouldn’t pay but some would pay a lot, in the form of donations.
I can easily envision a world where Facebook was a nonprofit along the lines of Wikipedia. Ad-free and supported by donations, the site would serve to connect the world (Facebook’s ostensible mission) without resorting to dark patterns or A/B testing for addictive engagement. I think there are plenty of wealthy people out there who would love to support such a site, if it existed.
Technology-wise, such a site could be built today, no problem. I have no idea what to do about the network effects that comprise Facebook’s moat, however.
- yrimaxi 6y agoSo a company that, in your own words, uses dark patterns and addictive engagement, could possibly be this [rose-tinted glasses conception of] Wikipedia? That’s ridiculous. That’s not even alternative history as you are reimagining the whole foundation of the company. Really, this must come from some utopian idea that company-founders really want to make the world better above else, but then profit-seeking—the modus operandi of all for-profit companies—intervenes just because the world is not pure enough for their vision.