The five quasi-monopolies previously discussed have a decent amount of control over various aspects of the Internet. These corporations have one goal – to make money. To do this, they have to get users returning to their respective sites. This desire has led to the previously mentioned trend of personalization, as platforms use data collection and algorithms to tailor an experience to each individual consumer.
The frequency with which much of America visits these quasi-monopolies on the web and the personalization of the information they see will have potentially negative affects on education and culture in the next ten years. These organizations enhance the filter bubble, a situation in which users are stuck in a feedback loop, only exposed to tailored information provided by these quasi-monopolies, instead of a range of diverse perspectives(Singer).
Because these qausi-monopolies have the cheapest prices on the web, their affect on culture and education is often ignored by consumers. As these companies inevitably gain more power within the decade, consumers must be aware of the lack of diversity in their information consumption. The diverse Internet that is often mentioned may exist, but users only see content from a few sources who are working to tailor that information directly to them, making this diversity irrelevant (Astra).
Singer, Natasha. “The Trouble With the Echo Chamber Online.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 May 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
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