In its early days, the internet appeared to hold the promise of a new form of communication not driven by the profit motive. Yet the sordid state of the internet today was not inevitable, according to scholar Jessa Lingel. Instead, she argues, a process took place — similar to the gentrification of our cities — in which those with wealth and power displaced myriad sites and communities of experimentation and dissent. She also discusses the still untapped potential of dark fibre optic cables right below our feet. (Encore presentation.)

Resources:

Jessa Lingel, The Gentrification of the Internet: How to Reclaim Our Digital Freedom UC Press, 2021

photo: Pixabay

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