Google says adding more AI to its search engine will rejuvenate the internet. Others predict an apocalypse for websites. One thing is clear: this era of online history is closing.
To a degree perhaps. It has also monopolised industries that feed into each other. Even if you choose not to use their consumer products, you are being used by them as the product in these industries if you use the web at all, which is most of their business model. That isn’t consumer choice. Political intervention is one hope, which in some countries I guess there is some consumer power over, if consumers were to collectivise to a degree more valuable than the lobbying power of this monster. The internet was turned into the yellowpages with sharp teeth by google .
The two approaches you mention need not be mutually exclusive. I ditched google services more than 10 years ago, while loving somewhere they did some truly despicable antidemocratic things. but so what? They’re a corporation. There are political lobby groups, privacy foundations and advocacy groups you can contribute to. Despite being respectfully evangelical with those around me, most other than a fringe really don’t care enough about this. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop. I will still suggest alternatives. They’re my principles. you’re working in their interest if you tell your allies to give up. I understand and share the cynicism around political process especially in democratic nations with disappointing levels of corporate influence over legislation, we can only engage in it best we can, as well as exerting our rights as consumers. The critical mass required may seem insurmountable but negativity toward those effectively on your side is not going to help either.
How about taking responsibility and just not using services that require it.
Google has shaped the web into what it is over decades so that they could maintain their position of power. This is the very essence and purpose of a monopoly. Yet here you are trying to blame anything but the monopoly for the monopoly’s existence.
Nothing like convincing hundreds of millions of people to abandon a company rather than put any pressure on the small group of greedy people who own it.
Listen man, if thats what you think is best, you keep using them and try to effect change, good luck, im just not going to use services like that and have the problem solved for myself. Let me know when you’ve made something happen and I’ll even apologise.
As another commenter put it, the approaches are not mutually exclusive. I’ve ditched most of Googles services over the past 5 years:
Pixel --> Pixel w/ Graphene (If Graphene ever makes their own hardware, I will drop my Pixel in an instant)
Gmail --> ProtonMail
Google Calendar --> Proton Calendar
Google.com --> Duckduckgo.com
Google PlayStore --> FDroid
Google Docs/Sheets --> Libre Office
Google Keep --> Obsidian w/ sync
Google Maps --> Organic Maps
Google Home (never had this shit to begin with) --> Self-hosted Home Assistant
And I plan to continue that trend. I’ve personally gotten many of my friends and family to make these switches as well.
I don’t need (or want) your weird, hypothetical, backhanded apology. However, I think you inadvertently carry water for Google when you muster up this false sense of superiority and blame everyone else for the problems that greedy tech bros create. But hey, if you simply can’t stop yourself, then maybe adopt a more positive approach to getting people to switch, rather than assuming that everyone is dumber than you. Good luck!
To a degree perhaps. It has also monopolised industries that feed into each other. Even if you choose not to use their consumer products, you are being used by them as the product in these industries if you use the web at all, which is most of their business model. That isn’t consumer choice. Political intervention is one hope, which in some countries I guess there is some consumer power over, if consumers were to collectivise to a degree more valuable than the lobbying power of this monster. The internet was turned into the yellowpages with sharp teeth by google .
Oh yes, political intervention, that’ll work, no chance of that turning out worse than what we have now.
How about taking responsibility and just not using services that require it. And I dont care if that’s a disadvantage to some, that’s the cost.
The two approaches you mention need not be mutually exclusive. I ditched google services more than 10 years ago, while loving somewhere they did some truly despicable antidemocratic things. but so what? They’re a corporation. There are political lobby groups, privacy foundations and advocacy groups you can contribute to. Despite being respectfully evangelical with those around me, most other than a fringe really don’t care enough about this. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop. I will still suggest alternatives. They’re my principles. you’re working in their interest if you tell your allies to give up. I understand and share the cynicism around political process especially in democratic nations with disappointing levels of corporate influence over legislation, we can only engage in it best we can, as well as exerting our rights as consumers. The critical mass required may seem insurmountable but negativity toward those effectively on your side is not going to help either.
Political intervention is what started Google, so I don’t see the problem.
Google has shaped the web into what it is over decades so that they could maintain their position of power. This is the very essence and purpose of a monopoly. Yet here you are trying to blame anything but the monopoly for the monopoly’s existence.
Nothing like convincing hundreds of millions of people to abandon a company rather than put any pressure on the small group of greedy people who own it.
Listen man, if thats what you think is best, you keep using them and try to effect change, good luck, im just not going to use services like that and have the problem solved for myself. Let me know when you’ve made something happen and I’ll even apologise.
As another commenter put it, the approaches are not mutually exclusive. I’ve ditched most of Googles services over the past 5 years:
Pixel --> Pixel w/ Graphene (If Graphene ever makes their own hardware, I will drop my Pixel in an instant) Gmail --> ProtonMail Google Calendar --> Proton Calendar Google.com --> Duckduckgo.com Google PlayStore --> FDroid Google Docs/Sheets --> Libre Office Google Keep --> Obsidian w/ sync Google Maps --> Organic Maps Google Home (never had this shit to begin with) --> Self-hosted Home Assistant
And I plan to continue that trend. I’ve personally gotten many of my friends and family to make these switches as well.
I don’t need (or want) your weird, hypothetical, backhanded apology. However, I think you inadvertently carry water for Google when you muster up this false sense of superiority and blame everyone else for the problems that greedy tech bros create. But hey, if you simply can’t stop yourself, then maybe adopt a more positive approach to getting people to switch, rather than assuming that everyone is dumber than you. Good luck!
But assuming people are dumber than me always yoelds such positive results, dont get butthurt man.
I’m not butthurt. Just trying to help you.