The global bifurcation isn't limited to energy markets and trade; it's now extending into information platforms and social media. We're on the brink of experiencing entirely separate worlds of information flow. This makes technologies like VPNs and Tor more crucial than ever.
In recent developments, Turkey has blocked Instagram, Russia is set to block Google, iOS, and Android, and Bangladesh has banned Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, and YouTube.
The separation already exists: people following the legacy media vs. people following independent media. Two groups of people living side by side but with completely different worldviews.
Here are the people who watch legacy media:
To be fair, we need to strike the right balance between both worldviews.
Let's build bridges and keep talking with each other while remaining firm on our convictions.
Difficult to build bridges when one side calls the other deplorable, racist, homophobe, Islamaphobe, transphobe, xenophobe, etc
Difficult to build bridges when one side is willfully ignorant
Difficult to build bridges with the enemy
https://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/enemies/
But you do raise a good point
people use these platforms to circulate anti government information and to organise in groups - it's a reactionary, authoritarian effort by governments to try to impede the rising tide of revolt that is sweeping across seemingly ever larger areas of the world - while it's true that other possibilities exist for people to communicate and organise, the widespread use of these platforms means governments understand that banning will have an effect of limiting, albeit for a short time, the ability of people to mobilise in revolt against their states.
Russia will ban both iOS and Android? To what alternative? Huawei and oppo?
The bifurcation is also about people choosing the state and authoritarianism - or choosing freedom and sovereignty. Very interesting times.
That's a good observation. And they are fighting each other, too, out of their own bubbles
What do you think would be Turkey's motivation for blocking Instagram's platform of mindless narcissism? Is it similar to Tiktok where people are just basically payed to shill whatever social message they are payed to? War against populism?
it was probably about Instagram blocking posts mourning the assassination of the Hamas leader
Yes, you're absolutely right that the world is entirely on the brink of seperate information flow. I think The cultural differences among East and West are one big reason apart from other reasons.
Social media is not really needed. Sure, it makes life easier but if you get a phone number, you can easily call and keep in contact with a person. Unless those countries are having some benefit for using these systems, they should turn them off.
But true freedom entails the freedom to use the things you don’t need.
You can use other systems. You just dont want to give up these systems because you have used them all your life.
But this also is a promotion for things like SN or Nostr
Yes, it gives other tech a chance to breath. China doesnt have google and facebook, and it still manages.
the problem is that i am starting to massively stand in the way of the media revolution, i.e. the liberation of the individual from state propaganda. it will be very important to get around this
If google and facebook were clear about what they use their data for, then I think countries wouldnt mind using their services. But at the moment, its of no benefit to use their services. They can just use others, right?
Others, which are controlled by their own govs...
Right, that is right. Some are controlled by their governments... but wait, are you saying google and facebook arent?
Nono. Of course they are, too
It's easier to block phone calls than internet traffic.
And I wonder how Russia is going to ban Android, which is FOSS.
I think it's a lot of hot air
They will probably try and see how it works. Might not be useful enough to pursue, though.
Maybe they will stop all cell phone use? except for apple? Or maybe they will deal with china and get their service.
https://m.stacker.news/43611