Just saw a take that basically was “make people pay a price to use any online platform” which is just very?? white middle class?? How do you think people who can’t afford that are going to express themselves?? Post about inhumane work conditions??
But also it got me thinking, at one point I was raging about the price of gas going up to my dad and he said, “good. It will discourage people from driving, and eventually the industry will die.”
Which, is basically another form of this same argument, which is basically, remove access by making it inaccessible to those who can’t pay.
Does it mean the resource gets used less? Well, I’m not an economist so I don’t really know, but my guess is no— because the bulk of its use to begin with is by the rich anyway, so the lower class dipping out most likely will have a small effect, but will ultimately be drowned out by the price increase. Also, they will simply still rely on it and be poorer by this strain, because our entire society is fucking built on the oil industry ffs.
Social media is becoming (or maybe already is) a core part of the way our society communicates and formulates beliefs and values. It sucks, yes, but we have to face the fact that this is what is happening whether we like it or not. Even if you don’t place value in social media for moral direction, an increasingly high number of people do and turn to it for news, opinion, and life choices.
Given this modern role of social media, it disturbs me that this argument is being presented as such a reasonable and level take, as marginalized voices are already so ignored and outright mocked on the internet. If the internet becomes something only accessible to the upper classes, the disconnect between these realities (rich and not rich) will rapidly increase. While I know this is already in practice via algorithms and other features, you can at least still find content if you look for it. People can call elongated muskrat a piece of shit and he will SEE it. If a paywall is raised, expression on social media will become a privilege, just like having an entertainment subscription or any other paid thing.
It especially concerns me when talking about social justice online, and how the internet has been a tool for empowerment for poor communities that would not be able to protest inhumane treatment otherwise.
I dunno this take just pissed me off a little like I know this is a capitalist society and all that but the goal should not be to make things less accessible to the poor because you want your cute little site to be ad free. Like no it’s not perfect hell it actively sucks but making it a premium service?? Not it!
Also would be irresponsible not to mention how sucky data mining is and how it can put people at risk if involved in social activism. Like yes I get it the current system isn’t perfect but just like the gas issue, raising prices is not going to make anything better until the abusive systems at play are burned to the ground.
Ugh anyway I guess what I’m trying to say is capitalism sucks ass and like, a take that encourages MORE cost/price barring PISSES ME TF OFF
In a perfect world the internet would be free and housing would be free and food would be free and healthcare would be free and all basic human necessities would be FREE and I could BUY SOME MOTHERFUCKING ART FFS
