Maybe I've been reading too much maoism, but the embryonic -> centralized -> federated throughline of the internet over the last 50 years reminds me of the course of marxism-leninism-maoism over the last 150.
network centralization is driven by the need to extract profit
peer-to-peer protocols are much harder to monetize
network centralization is driven by the need to extract profit
Partially true, but there are also a lot of efficiencies that come with centralization. There are good reasons to have centralized systems, even without a profit motive. Sometimes the profit motive causes this to happen when it's needed, and often centralization happens where it shouldn't.
Centralization of product ordering and distribution under Amazon is arguably good for instance, we should simply nationalize it into a well-funded and equipped post office that isn't going to be gutted by bourgeois interests (impossible under the United States of course). At the same time, we would want to elevate conditions for workers both within Amazon, and outside of it by redistributing the profits more equitably.
I definitely agree that federated social media is cooler and more fun for a lot of reasons, and I really want chapo/hexbear to get it implemented (but they definitely have a lot on their plate ofc).
fair points, thanks. I stated it too broadly when I should have said it was one of the forces involved.
Ya I know you know better ;) just wanted to expand on what you said a bit for the peanut gallery
