ATT vs Hush-a-Phone
Google vs Microsoft
Facebook vs Instagram
Monopolies are as American as apple pie. In fact, one of America’s most popular family games is centered around owning all of the competition and making others pay for services.
He who owns information controls the universe. In regards to the digital universe, Google is Oz, Mark Zuckerberg is sitting behind the green curtain, and we are deciding between which road will take us back to Kansas .
Many of us who were around when the original Facebook launched admired Zuckerberg. Generation X-ers and Millennials regarding him as a business savvy peer who created this platform where college and graduate students could network.
As Facebook became more popular, public and open, we no longer viewed Zuckerberg as a peer. He is now a business tycoon, eager to monopolize the competition…
What’s the solution for companies who take the monopolistic approach?
Dr. Rufus Pollock suggests regulating and funding. Well, what’s the issue? It’s tricky. First, the minute someone utters the words “regulation” a panic ensues. What will that cost? Does that mean my private information becomes public?
Pollok’s solution is to regulate and fund the software that allow Zuckerberg and Google to be the sole provider of their platforms. Regulating and funding the software will allow the competition access as well so that the public can decide who gives the best option or provides a better service.
Oz is big enough for more than one person to sit behind the green curtain.
Pollock, Rufus. 2018. Open Revolution. https://openrevolution.net/media/open-revolution.pdf
Zomorodi, Manoush and Poyant, Jen. 2018. ZigZag Podcast Season 2 Episode 11: If Capitalism and Socialism Had a Baby. https://zigzagpod.com/2018/12/20/s2-ep11-if-capitalism-and-socialism-had-a-baby/