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Paul's avatar

I like the idea of a regulated public alternative, especially for under 16's. If they get used to using it because it is the only option for them until 16, then they are much less likely to switch.

Communication systems are both natural monopolies and public utilities. It was only the neoliberal mania for privatization that blocked us from seeing this at the outset of social media.

Yellow journalism has been with is since the birth of mass literacy and consequently mass media. The ability of the Nazis to exploit the then relatively new media of radio and film was a big part of their success.

In other words, it is not a new problem. We just forgot history for fantasies of competitive markets creating "marketplaces of ideas."

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Ziggy's avatar

I very much like the notion that promotion of material should be considered publication by network managers. I'm more skeptical of education, although it probably can't hurt. I know very little about digital media, but know a bit about banking. Banks always promote consumer education as an alternative to regulation of their market conduct. "Financial literacy," and all that. I wonder why?

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