Digital Literacy

Recently, there is a lot of talks about antitrust against big tech. Certainly, part of it is anti-competitive behavior from giant tech corporations, but it's hard not to feel that political dissatisfaction from politicians of all persuasions, however secret, is the main drive behind antitrust. Otherwise, why not break up big finance, which is much more dangerous economically, too? Or, why accept Microsoft's monopoly in workplace while focusing on Google and Amazon?

Breaking up big tech without also breaking up big finance is modern political cynicism. Politicians don't like being slighted, however imaginary, so they break up big tech. Politicians need donations from Wall Street and revolving doors for retirement, so they protect big finance.

While algorithms and content moderators are responsible for accentuating extremism and conspiracy theories, it's human nature for herding that produced the fiasco. Addressing tech without also addressing human nature is misleading at best, harmful at worst. Who believes political bullshit will diminish once Facebook is broken up?

Another reason why breaking up big tech is dangerous is that regulators may not have sufficient technical knowledge. Consider breaking up Apple. Can you imagine separating software and hardware so that the antitrust-transformed business operates like, well, Microsoft plus Intel? Unprofessional antitrust can hurt people's welfare inconceivably. There are better ways to regulate big tech than antitrust. Why not employ big fines when big tech hurts people?

It's understandable that Microsoft supporters might be happy with breaking up Apple, and vice versa. But making judgements based on rudimentary economics is child's play. Does USA really want to give China a chance for digital dominance if Huawei succeeds?

A aspect of the current fiasco, human nature, can be addressed with digital literacy. The transforming power of the digital revolution is immense with no end in sight. It's obvious that modern citizens should be required to know how to verify Internet content, avoid bad actors, and behave responsibly online. Teaching digital literacy should be on every modern school curriculum.

Will the issue of big tech be resolved under digital civilization, or crude antitrust?

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