Should We‘Breaking Up’ Big Tech?
Don’t know when I have noticed many people, more exactly, I mean netizens, start posting or commenting on issues just for a few simple reasons which could be validation addiction, sympathy seeking, or even pity-seeking. The actions become aimless somehow, but social media is just about it. It is an interactive platform for anyone to share, respond to, and engage with others in this real-time world. With the ability to actively speak to people, social media has become the unscrupulous place for ‘‘freedom of speech’’. But how will platforms balance supporting free speech with handling the rampant misinformation, media framing that contributed so significantly to today’s world? So, regulation and legislation come to be turning points to concern with how Big Tech operates.
Regulations between Social media & Traditional media
Though, sharing misleading content seems inevitable since there are about 4 billion social media users worldwide, and each of them has a different perspective. It’s too hard to regulate whether they are harmful content shared on platforms. In recent years, Facebook and Twitter have started to ban someone who tries to create chaos from their platforms through both government policies and self-regulation. It is a controversy with both network security and individuals’ speech protection, whereas it is an issue that untangles due to regulation of social media is different from traditional media. A key point is that social media platforms have infinite bandwidth that they can reach as large a user as possible. In contrast with it, traditional media ( that is, newspapers, radio, cable news) are offering limited bandwidth. They target much narrower audiences.
Another possible dimension of it is that we don’t have third parties on social media yet to help people either supervise misinformation or hold transparency and accountability. However, traditional platforms usually produce something across their networks with editorial oversight of executives who protect companies from breaking the laws and they have third parties identify unlawful content and remove it.
Entering a New Era for Social Media Regulation
Additionally, representatives introduced four separate bills aimed at restraining the power of the tech giants like Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon last month. Those comprehensive bills could see here, those potentially leading to their break-up.
The first bill would make it illegal for a platform to give preference to their products on their platforms.
The second measure bans any tech business mergers unless it can demonstrate that the acquired company was not in competition with any product or service the platform already offers.
The third would require platforms owning subsidiaries that operate on their platform if those subsidiaries compete with other businesses.
A fourth measure requires platforms to allow users to transfer their data elsewhere if they desire, including to a competing business.
What will break up the tech giant take
The slogan ‘’break them up’’, this negative term is not a good solution and effective way for society and the economy. These platforms feature very large in different business models, Facebook drives social media, Google maintains search engine and ad, Apple sells technology devices, and Amazon dominates e-commerce, the government can’t just split them up because they have a large market share.
Altogether, the sifts of limitations and restrictions on digital media cause a major impact. I think the thing has pros and cons to both Big Tech and social media users. One advantage is that companies bear responsibility for users that they won’t be immersed in certain information without knowing it. For example, as the first bill, Apple wouldn’t be allowed to take sides of its own Music platform over Spotify, so users are able to receive fair information and advertising. On the other hand, Spotify can be more competitive with Apple.
One significant change could be that tech giants are reined tighter than ever. They used to acquire other competitors by offering the same service, for instance. Now, they are under the provision that can prevent them from monopolies. And one possibility for major people to keep away from thought reform. Some businesses or politicians attempt to dominate the sort of media channel to create media framing and try to brainwash the public. I certainly believe that media companies should take responsibility for protecting media visitors from it.
Speaking of data probability, it can allow new competitors to attract customers more easily. Let say, if a consumer could port his buying habit data from Google search to Amazon with a few links? The consumer can control her data to provide to other mediums which could be efficient and effective throughout those social platforms. Regulations that lower entry barriers will help reduce the establishment market power of dominant platforms.
