No Platform

What do the rapacious monsters who are ruining everything want?

Photo: Remko van Dokkum

If you have had a hard time articulating to yourself or others why the “new economy” for which a large sector of our technology and business media continues to cheerlead is actually a scam of epic proportions that will fundamentally destroy whatever is left of this country’s tattered social contract, here is one sentence that will help you on your journey to expression:

“Platforms seek total control even as they abdicate responsibility.”

It comes from this piece by John Herrman, the rest of which will enable further understanding. Everything is terrible, but at least you can have a better sense of why.

Platform Companies Are Becoming More Powerful – but What Exactly Do They Want?