This consolidation of power is a dream come true for the Big Tech platforms, but it’s a nightmare for users. While the megacorporations get more traffic and a whole lot more user data (read: profit), users are left with far fewer community options and a bland, corporate surveillance machine instead of a vibrant public sphere. The internet we all fell in love with is a diverse and colorful place, full of innovation, connection, and unique opportunities for self-expression. That internet—our internet—is worth defending.
The fact that you recognise it would be a struggle should honestly spur you on even more to do it. People got by for a long time without the Internet and even though now the same infrastructure they’d have used is at best a shell of its former self if not gone entirely it would still be possible. We don’t have to stop entirely but if a bunch of sites suddenly find their traffic is way down they’d start to put pressure on about getting rid of ID checks and we might finally see some movement
Oh, I know. No preaching required. I’m from pre-internet days. That’s why I agree with you. Being this dependent on the internet is not good for me or anyone else.