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The internet was conceived as a democratic haven, a realm where every individual had the potential to influence and shape their digital experience. However, a p
by RIMR 3y ago
The internet was conceived as a democratic haven, a realm where every individual had the potential to influence and shape their digital experience. However, a pervasive dip in technological literacy and a rising dependency on heavily-guided online pathways has begun to shift this balance. If this trend persists, corporations will continue to maintain their overarching dominion.
A dynamic, user-driven community still thrives in the vast expanse of the digital world, yet it lies hidden beyond the towering edifices of corporate-controlled structures. Discovering these spaces has become an increasingly formidable task, as the infusion of corporate social content into journalistic and blogging platforms perpetuates the mirage that such networks are all that exist.
Each colossal tech corporation we see today began its journey as a modest, affable endeavor. As these projects expanded with their burgeoning popularity, users neglected to challenge the escalating influence and control these companies wielded.
Nitter was merely an alternative facade to Twitter. Despite offering an ad-free environment, it lacked substantial advantages as the underlying platform remained the same - Twitter.
However, the digital realm is not void of choices. Federated social media is emerging as a profound alternative. Yet, a majority of those voicing concerns about corporate social media seem to dismiss options like Mastodon. This is primarily due to their increased technological demands and people's comfort in having a corporation guide their online journey.
The power to reshape your digital footprint rests in your hands. You can sever ties with your corporate social media accounts. You can choose to eschew media that incessantly embeds corporate social media content. You can advocate for an internet not ruled by corporate influence. All it requires is the willingness to venture beyond the realm of comfort.
- the-printer 3y ago> The internet was conceived as a democratic haven, a realm where every individual had the potential to influence and shape their digital experience. I have a hard time reconciling this perspective with history. Were any of these ideals present among the people/organizations responsible for the internet and the Web at the time that they were being developed? Or is sentiment like yours something that people adopted later on?
- RIMR 3y agoI was speaking more to the ethos that arose as the internet was opened up to the public and began to evolve in the late 20th century. You are correct that this is a far cry from its initial conception as a military communications network (ARPANET).
- kjs3 3y agoWell...that's quite a revisionist history. The internet was conceived as a DARPA concept of reliable government communications in the face of unreliable transport, among many other research interests. For most of its early existence (through at least the NSFnet incarnation in the US), it was the private preserve of academic, government and military users, along with some of the corporations that supported them and commercial use beyond supporting projects was prohibited (e.g. you couldn't use it for advertising). It was far from a 'Democratic haven'. There were epic flamewars over 'do we let any more commercial content in our private backyard?' and 'why would we let regular people in?'. However, a pervasive dip in technological literacy... Right...it's bad we let the proles into utopia. So much for 'democratic havens'. If you can't get the basic background right, it really damages the credibility of the rest of the screed (which I mostly agree with).