While it is no secret that exploitative practices are interlaced with capitalistic tendencies, the practices are becoming intolerable. Signing up to pay usually takes only two clicks that are prominently visible whereas cancelation options are hidden away in deep settings requiring multiple clicks. Pricing often feel arbitrary with no reference points. Every large company grows with the intention of exhibiting monopolistic behavior. This is not sustainable and should not be tolerated.

  • Balder
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    -202 months ago

    This is actually good. There’s finally more room for good services offered by smaller companies that care about users.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 months ago

      This would require the possibility of competition, which is generally forbidden widely due to lobbying, the consequential weakening of antitrust laws, and the follow-on massive consolidation on a scale that history has never seen before.

      Maybe in theory but not in 2024. You’re only allowed to compete until you moon a giant, then you’re screwed.

      • @affiliate
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        32 months ago

        this reminds me of what happened to the instagram cofounders when zuckerberg asked to buy their company:

        Systrom [cofounder] said he feared turning down an acquisition offer from Facebook would send Zuckerberg into “destroy mode” — a concern that Cohler [early investor] affirmed.

        (source)

        this stuff came up in a court hearing, and then nothing happened about it

        • Encrypt-Keeper
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          82 months ago

          Antitrust laws and lobbying exist in many countries. You know there are more countries than just the U.S., right?

        • @[email protected]
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          22 months ago

          There’s this thing called multinational corporations that transcend the boundaries of a country. It varies, but this is a global problem. See issues like housing and the cost of food.

    • @SlopppyEngineer
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      122 months ago

      I moved to a smaller company for certain services. Now that small company gets bought up by a big company and the services are discontinued. Back to big tech it is.