A thought about how we are “products” for big tech.

We live in a world where our main forms of communication are owned by behemoth corporations that arguably have a monopoly on the market. You know how you can only download apps from the itunes app store or the google play store? Android currently has some other options for sideloading, which google is looking to kill this September. That’s what’s laughable about capitalism, how they gaslight us into thinking we have choice. How is it good for consumers to have LESS control over their own devices?

For most people, including myself, a smart phone is a utility that is largely required to function in normal day to day society. When it comes to smart phones, social media, and the internet at large, it is no longer about community or bettering this tech for the consumer. We are the product. These companies have grown so large and gone unchecked for so long, they’ve taken our tools of communication and turned them into surveillance and data harvesting tools.

Everything you do online is tracked and monitored. Every link you click, every post you like, your watch time, your engagement, your search history, everything. We carry a device in our pockets with us all day of every day that even tracks where you go. Privacy doesn’t exist anymore. These companies take this data, sell it to whomever, build a profile on you and use that information to sell you things and advertise to you. We are up against faceless behemoths that are above the law.

Our representatives are either unable, unwilling, or lack the understanding on how to legislate and protect the user. Politicians have focused on the same issues over and over again for the past 50 years. Abortion, immigration, religion, civil rights, etc. Most of them are in the pockets of these large tech giants. Which is largely why we see no progress on reigning these companies in. They have a vested interest to use you and profit off you. We stay focused on arguing the same talking points and fighting culture wars. Social media supresses us from agreeing and keeps us distracted. It’s a constant firestorm of misinformation, talking points, and rage-baiting.

What started as a digital fun place to share things and see your friends gradually turned into a for-profit machine, focused on maximizing shareholder value at the expense of the average user. If congress cared about the people, they would introduce legislation that limits what information these companies can collect. By default, most new devices are filled with apple and google bloatware, with all you’re privacy settings set to “share” automatically. Competition is largely defeated and alternatives are difficult to come by. Even more difficult because these companies either buy out the competition, or do their best to sabotage any sort of cross-compatibility.

We barely noticed the change once these platforms started developing “influencers” and introduced ways to monetize and earn through the platform. We’re no longer on an even playing field. The best way to get money these days is to cause outrage or sell your body. It gets the most attention and the best payout. It’s not social media anymore, it’s not community, it’s a gig basically. If you’re in a position of power, like a politician or a celebrity, all you have to do is tweet something that’s going to piss off a lot of people and then boom, you’re rolling in dough. Maybe that’s why we see these crazy outlandish people in the news all the time. Probably even why we have such a controversial figure as president. Being normal isn’t as profitable as being a bad person.

I don’t think there has been a worse time in existence for this open corruption. We can’t seem to think rationally or come to agreement on things. It’s a constant argument. A smokescreen. A whirlwind of information that we can’t keep up with.

It doesn’t have to be like this. Vote with your wallet. You may not be able to avoid using services from these tech giants since they are so ingrained in everything we do. But you can take steps to lessen your digital footpring. There are alternatives. Don’t pay for their services if you don’t need to. Don’t pay for exposure. Don’t donate through them. Don’t buy their products. Don’t sign up for their subscriptions. The only thing these people understand or care about is money. (and underage kids)

This was probably depressing to read. But I do believe that things will get better. People will come to their senses. These politicians and these tech giants are beginning to eat each other. It can’t last. It isn’t sustainable. Keep living your life in the real world. The internet is not indicative of the way the world actually is. In an ocean of bad news, there are infinite good things and beautiful moments that are occuring. You just don’t get to see them all.

“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” —Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea