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So you think as long as the user can choose to leave, the platform is no an intermediary. I strongly disagree. Even if the user theoretically can choose, we hav

• autoexec 5y ago
  > So you think as long as the user can choose to leave, the platform is no an intermediary. I strongly disagree. Even if the user theoretically can choose, we have to consider the asymmetric information, high switching cost, and monopoly power that are so prevalent nowadays. Some platforms rise to that level I think. Youtube is one example. Email doesn't really have that problem. Anyone can install an email server, and there are a huge amount of options (many of them "free") for those who don't want to run their own mail servers. Email is still a competitive space with different companies offering specialized services targeting people who want privacy, low cost, mass mailing capability, tracking features, etc. Email itself has a ton of competing communication protocols. There are plenty of folks who prefer to communicate over chat or by text. You can even keep an old email address and forward anything sent there to another one or use a separate email address for sending, but get replies at your old address. Switching email addresses is about as easy as it gets.