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Related: “How can we tame the tech giants now that they control society’s infrastructure?” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/06/how-can-we-tame

Related: “How can we tame the tech giants now that they control society’s infrastructure?” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/06/how-can-we-tame-the-tech-giants-now-that-they-control-societys-infrastructure https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/06/how-ca...

KingOfCoders 5y ago
Slightly off topic. (I left Facebook et al., threw out all Echos, try to minimize Google) People treat this as something new. The new is the global. In the past the local newspaper had total control over your business. It might have been easier to deal with the local newspaper than with Google though (from my experience deeling with Google as a small business). On the other hand in a lot of small cities (in Germany), there is a clique of people deciding everything about a city including the journalist from the newspaper, hard to get something changed for you business (At least that was my experience in some startups that were not part of the clique).
- SahAssar 5y ago
  That's not true. The local newspaper didn't have control over the paper maps people had and tourists bought, They didn't control the phonebook, they didn't handle your mail, they didn't track every store you entered and article you opened. I think you gravely overestimate the power that local newspapers had.
  - KingOfCoders 5y ago
    They did all the local reviews and reporting on businesses. YMMV but growing up in the 70s and 80s and working in the 90s in several startups in Germany, the local newspaper and their clique in smaller towns (50-100k people) controlled business perceptions and could make you fly or crash. I'm happy for Google reviews today, because Google has an agenda, but not about ratings on your businesses - not like the local newspaper which is controlled by the pals of your competition.
    - SahAssar 5y ago
      But saying that this isn't new makes it seem like google only replaced the services the local newspaper previously provided. That is not true.
    - sdoering 5y ago
      I agree. I grew up in a small town in Germany with around 10 - 12k residents. There were only three ways to learn about a new business and the quality it provided: - try it our yourself - read in the paper about the opening and read the review of the local journalist - have others (Neighbors, friends) tell you about it - most often these reports were influenced by the media's/journalist's take on the business. Nonetheless one could work around the local paper if you were able to get WOM started. At least in special sub cultures/groups. But if you catered for the average Jane (or Joe) you needed the goodwill of the paper. And you had to buy it with advertising (and sometimes outright bribes to the journalist). And - if there were one or two influential clubs/societies in town like the local sports club or the "Freiwillige Feuerwehr" (local voluntary fire department) you better had their higher ups on your good side and pampered them.

KingOfCoders 5y ago

Slightly off topic. (I left Facebook et al., threw out all Echos, try to minimize Google) People treat this as something new. The new is the global. In the past the local newspaper had total control over your business. It might have been easier to deal with the local newspaper than with Google though (from my experience deeling with Google as a small business). On the other hand in a lot of small cities (in Germany), there is a clique of people deciding everything about a city including the journalist from the newspaper, hard to get something changed for you business (At least that was my experience in some startups that were not part of the clique).

SahAssar 5y ago
That's not true. The local newspaper didn't have control over the paper maps people had and tourists bought, They didn't control the phonebook, they didn't handle your mail, they didn't track every store you entered and article you opened. I think you gravely overestimate the power that local newspapers had.
- KingOfCoders 5y ago
  They did all the local reviews and reporting on businesses. YMMV but growing up in the 70s and 80s and working in the 90s in several startups in Germany, the local newspaper and their clique in smaller towns (50-100k people) controlled business perceptions and could make you fly or crash. I'm happy for Google reviews today, because Google has an agenda, but not about ratings on your businesses - not like the local newspaper which is controlled by the pals of your competition.
  - SahAssar 5y ago
    But saying that this isn't new makes it seem like google only replaced the services the local newspaper previously provided. That is not true.
  - sdoering 5y ago
    I agree. I grew up in a small town in Germany with around 10 - 12k residents. There were only three ways to learn about a new business and the quality it provided: - try it our yourself - read in the paper about the opening and read the review of the local journalist - have others (Neighbors, friends) tell you about it - most often these reports were influenced by the media's/journalist's take on the business. Nonetheless one could work around the local paper if you were able to get WOM started. At least in special sub cultures/groups. But if you catered for the average Jane (or Joe) you needed the goodwill of the paper. And you had to buy it with advertising (and sometimes outright bribes to the journalist). And - if there were one or two influential clubs/societies in town like the local sports club or the "Freiwillige Feuerwehr" (local voluntary fire department) you better had their higher ups on your good side and pampered them.