Technology & Society

Move Fast and Break Things

Name: Move Fast and Break Things
Author: Jonathan Taplin

Jonathan Taplin

24 minAudio9 insights

What you'll learn

•How digital monopolies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon emerged and dominate markets.
•The libertarian ideology underpinning Silicon Valley's business practices and culture.
•The economic and cultural impact of digital disruption on artists and creative industries.
•The role of privacy, surveillance, and social media in shaping modern society.
•The challenges and contradictions of the Internet economy and digital capitalism.
•Potential legal, cooperative, and societal solutions for a sustainable digital future.
•The importance of human values, empathy, and creativity in the digital age.

Who should read this

✓Artists and Creators struggling in the digital economy
✓Policy Makers and Regulators in technology and media
✓Students and Scholars of digital culture and economics
✓Tech Industry Professionals interested in ethical implications

About this book

An incisive critique of how Silicon Valley's digital monopolies disrupt culture, economy, and democracy, with a call for reform and a digital renaissance.

Did You Know?

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Jonathan Taplin was a music and film producer who worked with Bob Dylan, The Band, and Martin Scorsese before becoming a professor and author.

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Audio Summary

Section 1

The Rise of Digital Monopolies and the New Economic Landscape

3:45

8 Sections

Preview: The Rise of Digital Monopolies and the New Economic Landscape

Imagine a world where a few towering giants control the vast majority of what you see, hear, and buy online. Google commands nearly 90% of all search queries in the United States, a staggering figure that has profound implications for how information flows and who controls it. Similarly, Amazon dominates the book market, with nearly two-thirds of all online new book sales passing through its platform. This concentration is not just about business; it reshapes culture itself. As these digital monopolies grow, they redirect billions of dollars away from the creators of art, music, and journalism into their own coffers. Since 2000, US recorded music revenues have plummeted from nearly $20 billion to just over $7 billion annually. The newspaper industry has suffered an even more precipitous decline in advertising revenue, with Facebook alone siphoning off over a billion dollars from print ads.

These shifts are not accidental but are a direct result of the platforms’ market dominance and their ability to control distribution channels. The traditional gatekeepers—record labels, publishers, broadcasters—have been supplanted by digital giants who operate with little regulatory oversight. This new economic landscape is characterized by a winner-takes-all dynamic, where a tiny fraction of content generates the vast majority of revenue. For example, in the music industry, 80% of revenue now comes from just 1% of the content, a stark contrast to earlier eras where revenue was more evenly spread.

As we begin our journey through this digital age, it is crucial to understand how these monopolies emerged, the economic forces behind them, and the consequences for society at large. The story is not just about technology but about power, control, and the future of creativity. Let us now delve deeper into the ideological forces that shaped this revolution.