Hidden Forces How the Internet Went From Counterculture to Technofeudalism | Douglas Rushkoff
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Sep 15, 2025 
Douglas Rushkoff, a media theorist and writer, delves into how the internet transformed from a countercultural utopia into a platform for technofeudalism. He reflects on his journey from a communal upbringing in Queens to becoming a leading critic of digital culture. The conversation highlights the dangers of digital disembodiment, the loss of authentic connections, and the implications of corporate influence on society. Rushkoff urges listeners to reclaim agency and foster genuine relationships in an increasingly mediated world.
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From Queens To Disillusioned Theater Director
- Douglas Rushkoff describes growing up in Queens and moving to wealthier suburbs, which revealed how more money led to isolation.
- He also recounts his theater career and disillusionment with elite, expensive theater that pushed him toward the internet.
Tools Turned From Extensions To Controllers
- Rushkoff contrasts early internet tools as extensions of human creativity with modern tools used to control behavior.
- He warns we moved from using tools to realize visions to using tools on people to create those visions.
Investment Reshaped Internet Culture
- The early internet had a sharing, collaborative ethos because it was publicly and academically supported.
- Venture investment and media like Wired shifted the internet toward predictability and profit, narrowing possibilities.
