The Cult of Sharing
▻http://www.metareader.org/post/the-cult-of-sharing.html
Whatever the benefits to these companies’ bottom lines, such a framing directs us away from politics. It misrepresents consumer choice as a form of empowerment, and turns the market into a field for social change. It tells us that public, democratic decision-making is clumsy, slow, a boondoggle, incapable of innovation, or an intractable deadlock that is best ignored while tech entrepreneurs get on with the business of changing the world through capitalism.
“But in the last few years, the tide has shifted. Tech companies have taken a new interest in advocating for their policy preferences in Washington, forming lobbying organizations like FWD.us and The Internet Association. The latter bills itself as “the unified voice of the Internet economy” and claims to represent both the industry—counting Google, Amazon, eBay, Facebook and many others among its membership—and their “global community of users.” Few trade associations are so bold as to claim to have unified the pursuit of their financial interests with the values and beliefs of its customers. Silicon Valley’s unique marketing strategy linking their products with a higher purpose makes it sound plausible.”
“One such higher purpose often invoked by technology marketing is the promise of community. We’re told that technology can restore a sense of community that modern people have lost, and this can be achieved through greater connectivity, collaboration, communication and participation brought by digital networks. Such dreams predate the internet.”
“These services need to be defended because some of the activities they facilitate are regulated by city governments, who quite sensibly require proper licensing, insurance and permits to run a taxi service or hotel. Peers addresses this problem by mobilizing its network of consumers and workers to attend city council meetings, sign petitions and write to local government officials in support of regulatory changes.”