With reaction-equal and opposite department
As is tradition on Techdirt, my last post for the 12 months is about optimism and the way I proceed to be optimistic about innovation and the online community, even in the midst of all the other nonsense that could be happening around the world. This is my sixteenth post like this. This trend began in 2008 once I noticed in lots of conversations that I used to be strangely optimistic about innovation, regardless that I used to be consistently writing offended texts about silly things that were happening.
Like I told Ed Zitron during the podcast at the starting of this 12 months, I even have all the time been a firm believer in innovations that make the world a greater place for everybody, and any anger you see in me comes from frustration with those that seek to delay or limit the advantages of such useful innovations. However, as identified in last 12 months’s final message, this will not be the same as saying “speed up at all costs”, because should you construct without considering the potential damage, your progress will likely be short-lived and the response will likely be even worse.
I consider in supporting innovation, but with a view to constructing it in a thoughtful way in order that the advantages may be lasting.
If you need to take a look at previous posts, here is the list:
This 12 months, I’ve heard just a few people suggest that they are curious to see me write an optimistic post, given all the nonsense the greater world is coping with, and the United States (specifically) appears to be treading down a stupidly dangerous path. I’ve seen some suggest that not less than Silicon Valley interests taking on the White House might be good for innovation, but I feel that is only marginally true.
The success of America’s momentum has many sources, but a key a part of it’s our basic institutions. And the MAGA/Trump world threatens to tear apart a few of these institutions while destroying other essential norms that result in modern societies. Attacks on free speech, gleeful vindictiveness against an inventory of perceived enemies, and a general openness to corruption definitely don’t bode well for creating lasting, useful innovations.
Apart from that, the momentum of huge tech and media corporations coddling and financing Donald Trump upon his return to the White House similarly suggests that they don’t need to push innovation forward, but moderately turn into toads hoping for a handout.
So why am I still optimistic? Because it actually offers a crucial alternative (and potentially higher) path towards innovation. This will not be to disclaim all the terrible shit that can occur in the next few years, or the harm that many may have to take care of, especially the most vulnerable amongst us.
But it may possibly also revitalize alternatives. Instead of counting on a slow and chaotic antitrust enforcement process or questionable regulations, the mess that reigns in government could open up opportunities to construct higher systems from the ground up. Of course, I’m very biased, but I feel Bluesky’s rapid adoption and growth only provides a small glimpse of things that could be to come back. Bluesky is only one example – there are various areas ripe for creating protocols and systems that enhance user capabilities.
When other things go incorrect, it opens up the opportunity to construct something higher, something that starts with a unique concept moderately than simply creating the “next [fill in the blank enshittified service]”, but above all, a technology that’s way more proof against enshittification.
As we see with Bluesky, a few of this modification is difficult. Part of the essential nature of Bluesky is that it’s built to present users more power, and yet we frequently see users demanding that the company abandon this rule in favor of a preferred rating, even when users have the opportunity to accumulate to that rating over time. yourself.
We’ve spent much of the last twenty years fighting over who will higher protect people online: big bad corporations or big bad government. And hopefully that is what we’ll learn no is the best solution. Providing users with tools (either independently or through third parties) will lead to higher (and more competitive) long-term results.
More and more problems will arise as all of us learn (or relearn) many things as we go. But the probability is now. People are quite upset about each how the government is handling things and the way major corporations are handling it. Rooting for one or the other to enhance seems futile. Let’s concentrate on ensuring none of them matter an excessive amount of.
We’re already seeing this occur in some corners of the web, and where it happens, many more opportunities open up. Just today I used to be talking (on Bluesky) about the possibilities of a more “protocol” approach to e-commerce, not only social media. There are many creative ways to rethink the Internet and restore it to its original, fundamental functions.
I don’t love the incontrovertible fact that we’re in a situation where the largest corporations and our elected officials are equally untrustworthy, but when that is what’s happening, we would as well use it as a possibility to bypass each side and construct higher systems that do not they concentrate on extracting information from the public, but on empowering the public.
Rather than being a cause for despair, the troubling actions of each the government and large tech corporations may very well encourage people to construct higher, more decentralized systems that empower users, not institutions.
Yes, many things are terrible, but history has shown us that the greatest innovations often are available in moments like these. There is a necessity, in addition to a scarcity of public confidence in the current plan of action. This has led some to adopt a wrecking ball approach to government that seems quite more likely to end in catastrophic failure.
A more positive approach is to construct systems that take all of this into consideration at a time when many persons are uninterested in the old systems and are way more open to adopting something that’s each recent and empowering. If we’ve got to take care of many terrible things, I intend to devote my efforts to creating higher online systems that can help empower individuals, and I hope that others will take part this process.
As all the time, my final thought on these posts is to thanks all, the community around Techdirt, for making all of it worthwhile. The community stays amazing to me. I’ve said in the past that I write as if I’m just going to share my thoughts into the void without expecting anyone to ever concentrate, and I’m all the time amazed when someone does, whether or not they wish to refer to me disagree or not. add some additional insights, challenge my considering, and even reach out to discuss find out how to actually move some ideas forward.
I do know this community is filled with creators, thinkers, and advocates who care deeply about using technology to enhance the world. Let’s use this chance to prove that innovation, when applied thoughtfully, can circumvent institutional failures and corruption. Thank you again to those reading this for making Techdirt such an exquisite and special place, and let’s concentrate on real optimism about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Filed Under: decentralization, user empowerment, New Year’s message, optimism
