As Platforms Decay, Let's Put Users First (2023)
16 hours ago
- #user empowerment
- #platform accountability
- #internet regulation
- Antitrust law revival is needed to combat internet consolidation and restore user power.
- Platforms initially offer users a good deal but later degrade services to favor business customers.
- Companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon have shifted from user-friendly practices to exploitative ones.
- Users and business customers both suffer as platforms claw back value once dependency is established.
- Regulation should prioritize user control, including alternatives and the ability to switch platforms easily.
- Two key principles: End-to-End ensures direct connections between users, while Right of Exit allows users to leave platforms without high costs.
- End-to-End applies to social media, search, e-commerce, and email to prioritize user choices over algorithmic interference.
- Right of Exit is facilitated by interoperability and data portability, as seen in federated systems like Mastodon.
- These principles are administratively easy to enforce and avoid creating barriers for small competitors.
- The goal is a public-interest internet where users have control and platforms are disciplined by competition.