Google’s story over the last two decades has been a tale as old as time: enshittification for growth. The once-beloved startup—with its unofficial “Don’t Be Evil” motto—has instead become a major Internet monopolist, as a federal judge ruled on Monday, dominating the market for online search. Google is also well-known for its data-harvesting practices, for constantly killing off products, and for facilitating the rise of brain-cell-destroying YouTubers who make me Fear for Today’s Youth. (Maybe that last one is just me?)
Google’s rapid rise from “scrappy search engine with doodles” to “dystopic mega-corporation” has been remarkable in many ways, especially when you consider just how much goodwill the company squandered so quickly. Along the way, though, Google has achieved one unexpected result: In a divided America, it offers just about everyone something to hate.
Here are just a few of the players hating Google today.
It’s only on YouTube because people only upload it there.
People do upload to other sites, especially when YouTube won’t host it, but sadly sometimes it’s banned for a good reason.
I wish more people used Peertube, but the monetization issue needs to be “solved” somehow.
For situations like encouraging authors of works where I lack specific solution to the issue then I fall back on old reliable: universal basic income. When people work as a matter of getting money for a better life, rather than survival, then people are able to take bigger risks when it comes to creative works.