This consolidation of power is a dream come true for the Big Tech platforms, but it’s a nightmare for users. While the megacorporations get more traffic and a whole lot more user data (read: profit), users are left with far fewer community options and a bland, corporate surveillance machine instead of a vibrant public sphere. The internet we all fell in love with is a diverse and colorful place, full of innovation, connection, and unique opportunities for self-expression. That internet—our internet—is worth defending.

  • etherphon@piefed.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    If I have to verify myself I simply won’t use it, I really don’t care, there’s nothing so important online that I need to prove my identity to see it. (Banking and shit like that aside of course). Social media? Give me a break I’m already over it before all this ID shit. I hope it all burns to the ground.

    • LuckingFurker (Any/All)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      Same. I know there are easy ways around it but I’m not going to use them, and I wish more people could take this attitude - if everyone cut down their Internet usage in response to this ID stuff things would quickly start to turn around

        • LuckingFurker (Any/All)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          1·
          2 months ago

          The fact that you recognise it would be a struggle should honestly spur you on even more to do it. People got by for a long time without the Internet and even though now the same infrastructure they’d have used is at best a shell of its former self if not gone entirely it would still be possible. We don’t have to stop entirely but if a bunch of sites suddenly find their traffic is way down they’d start to put pressure on about getting rid of ID checks and we might finally see some movement

  • 1984@lemmy.todayEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    Absolutely never using any service that requires this. I dont even have any account on those platforms and I never will.

    • oce 🐆@jlai.luEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      What if the platform you use with your relatives suddenly requires this?

      • Railcar8095@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        2 months ago

        I personally don’t use Instagram already, no need to wait for age verification.

        WhatsApp is the one I can’t skip yet, but it they force this shit I’m out.

        • Dalraz@lemmy.caEnglish
          0·
          2 months ago

          May I suggest using Signal messenger over WhatsApp.

          WhatsApp does use the Signal messaging protocol but I don’t trust meta not to modify their implementation of it.

          Signal is a privacy at all costs foundation.