Freakonomics Radio

253. Is the Internet Being Ruined?

Jul 14, 2016
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ANECDOTE

Ferguson Protest Contrast

  • During the Ferguson protests, Twitter was filled with discussion about police overreaction while Facebook showed mostly unrelated content.
  • Facebook's algorithm prioritized engagement, burying vital social conversations in favor of lighter viral content like the ice bucket challenge.
INSIGHT

Internet's Smart Edge Design

  • The internet was designed to be a general purpose network with dumb infrastructure and smart devices at the edge.
  • This reversed traditional telephone network design, enabling innovation without modifying the core network.
INSIGHT

Recentralization of Internet Power

  • New control points have emerged around the internet's early open spaces, concentrating power in a few tech giants.
  • This recentralization threatens the internet's original promise of decentralization and openness.
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