The Google-Facebook Duopoly Threatens Diversity of Thought

The solution really is a revitalization of antitrust policy. The reason markets work is because participants in them are bound to a 'race to the bottom' with many other participants doing the same thing. When companies aren't forced to race to the bottom against each other, the conditions of authoritarianism rise. Authoritarian structures don't have to necessarily come from government - monopolies, oligopolies and implicit cartels are some of the authoritarians of today. The question is have we reached a point where technology and globalization provide such enormous returns to the economies of scale that we can't go back or is all this corporate concentration just due to a lack of government enforcement?

Apparently having a large market share in advertising also means that you somehow own communication.

Yes, a lot of people use Facebook and Google but that doesn't mean that there aren't 50 bajillion means of communication. Network effects are strong but ultimately they don't prevent you from communicating with anybody. The person on the other end of the line who has a strong preference for their chosen form of communication does. There's also basically no barrier to switch, I mean I've got 12 different messaging apps on my phone right now and it's not even close to a burden. And that doesn't even include email and IRC. And when it comes to broadcast communication which this article seems to be focusing on Facebook and Google are by far not the only sources of broadcast. Hell you should be looking at the consolidation of print and broadcast television if you want to see a true cartel on information distribution.

Which makes me ask the question: do you, gentle Hacker News reader, really want diversity of opinion and why? Do you have unpopular opinions and if so, would you get fired or ostracized for sharing them? Are you practicing crimethink?

After all, the only people actually working on alternatives to Google and Facebook are the alt-right who have been de-platformed. Gab.ai is so de-platformed that google doesn't even let them put their app in the play store! Unlike the Pirate Bay and scihub, gab.ai is actually not violating the law. You aren't one of those filthy alt-righters who voted for Trump are you? Are you a person who raises uncomfortable questions that cause mental pain by triggering or creating cognitive dissonance in ideologically defenseless individuals you wish to torture with your arguments?

Anyway.... I don't think most of you want the Internet Facebook and Google insulate you all from. Why the heck are you complaining?

Stop using Facebook. Stop using Google. Problem solved.