1/9 Thread: quick thoughts on @benthompson's piece on "Facebook Political Problems"
Fascinating and intriguing read. Perhaps one of the very few analysts who wrestle and ponder on the many parallel pros and cons of Facebook and its centralized power.
stratechery.com/2021/facebook-…
Fascinating and intriguing read. Perhaps one of the very few analysts who wrestle and ponder on the many parallel pros and cons of Facebook and its centralized power.
stratechery.com/2021/facebook-…
2/ Analysts who pretend otherwise are probably either not paying attention or being intellectually disingenuous.
The article reminded me of one of earlier realizations before buying $FB.
The article reminded me of one of earlier realizations before buying $FB.
3/ All social media companies at scale are eventually going to be state propaganda machines unless the judiciary and the legislative branch are independent. In such a scenario, value may mostly accrue to the state, not the shareholders.
4/ Perhaps only a US company can reach scale and stay scaled without being hijacked by the state.
Other non-western social media companies, even though they may reach scale, it won't be spared by the state which will eventually dissuade users to engage in the said social media.
Other non-western social media companies, even though they may reach scale, it won't be spared by the state which will eventually dissuade users to engage in the said social media.
5/ Of course, the question remains whether that hypothesis can remain true in the US. Considering the supreme court and the legislative branch remain independent in the US, I am still optimistic.
6/ One sentence that made me deeply uncomfortable in Ben's piece is "it is not at all certain that the Internet is good for society".
Not sure whether @benthompson wrote it a bit casually, or did he introspect deeply that the calculation is indeed unclear?
Not sure whether @benthompson wrote it a bit casually, or did he introspect deeply that the calculation is indeed unclear?
7/ For all the downsides and witch hunting that followed after the rise of printing press, don't we think it is clear that being able to write, print, and propagate our thoughts across generations was indeed an unlock of human prosperity and ingenuity?
8/ Aren't we doing the same in steroids on the internet?
Another line that I am wrestling with is "countries want to be sovereign and individuals want to be free."
Another line that I am wrestling with is "countries want to be sovereign and individuals want to be free."
End/ Of course, there probably never was a moment in modern civilization when individuals were "free" and all countries were "sovereign". Perhaps one/both indeed the future. Time will tell.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful piece, Ben.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful piece, Ben.
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