Noleli’s avatarNoleli’s Twitter Archive—№ 25,644

    1. This is one of those times when the market *can* fix this, but only if given the right conditions. Facebook has a monopoly because of network effects. Barrier to entry isn’t just the cost of building technical systems or moving individual users, but MOVING WHOLE COMMUNITIES.
  1. …in reply to @Noleli
    What if Verizon customers could only text other Verizon customers? Or if you could only email other Gmail users from Gmail? Eventually, monopoly. That’s where we are with Facebook. Unless the FCC requires interoperability, nothing will change. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect#Interoperability
    1. …in reply to @Noleli
      The details will be complicated. Whether it actually protects privacy will depend on how much data Social Network A has to have about those on Network B. (c.f., mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-because-it-has-all-of-yours) End-to-end encryption may also play a role here, if supported by all parties.
      1. …in reply to @Noleli
        But at least it’d allow for the possibility of competition based on factors other than “who’s here”. Eventually, a community-supported nonprofit (think: Wikimedia Foundation) could even become the dominant player.
        1. …in reply to @Noleli
          What if Twitter had supported federation with Identi․ca back in the day — or Mastodon now? Would we all be locked in, stuck here on Twitter? Regulators must require interoperability of sociotechnical systems that tend toward natural monopolies because of network effects. /end