Is the Internet in its current state a consequence of the people valuing consuming over principles?

[UmQasaan]

In his latest tweet, Musk writes to assure that certain people on Twitter will be completely demonetized, in an unquestionable appeal to advertisers, so that they don't pull the plug. In this tweet and his last one addressing them specifically, free-speech absolutists would consider what Musk has stated to be significant concessions.

It not only got me thinking more deeply about advertisers really having the final say, but more importantly, WHY their image is so important to them.

Think about it, brand image is one of the most important things in successfully selling a product. Why? because it builds credibility investing, marketing, and of course, regular people buying their shit. It all traces back to average consoomer. If the consoomer deems that a brand's association with something they don't like is too morally reprehensible, then they will not only refrain from buying the product, but spread the word en masse that a particular brand is morally corrupt, leading to extensive societal pressure that forces the ones who actually don't give a shit, in line. That creates the horrible cycle of brands being more and more sanitized because they people are literally incapable of being direct, rational, or consistent.



Consoomers state they are "generally principled" (GPs) ->Brand associates with person they don't like (even though it's within the capitalistic consoomers's general principles to let companies associate with whoever) -> Mass outrage from other GPs who threaten to boycott -> Brand decides to pull the plug as it's easier and less risky to please the mob than to stand their ground -> Brand decides to not associate with anyone remotely controversial as they don't want another shitstorm ever again-> GPs are calm down and forget about it in a week -> repeat

I believe the direct result of the state of the internet is an indirect result of what the people actually want. The advertisers' attitudes reflect the consumer because they buy their shit. I am not defending brands. Just saying that the supposedly principled people bear a substantial portion as well.

 

[Ultrapenguin]

There are other sociopolitical elements at work, but for the most part the internet is the way it is because corporations have an inordinate amount of power, and thus discourse online is overwhelming shaped to cater to consumerist drones.

The power dynamics online are shifted towards the top because it is a depersonalized setting; a handful of people have complete control over infrastructure while the average person/group has no physical leverage whatsoever. Money becomes the only strength a person has as an abstract representation of societal power.

So in other words it isn't really because people value consuming over principles, it's because the political/social elite and the weak minded, empty, easily herded people who do value consuming over principles have way more relative power in a transhumanist environment like the internet.

 

[From The Uncanny Valley]

Children, and the weirdos obsessed with them