We Need To Rewild The Internet

The Nugget

The internet, once a sprawling ecosystem of innovation, has been reduced to a "monoculture" dominated by a few tech giants, mirroring the ecological disaster of 18th-century German forestry. To revitalize it, we must adopt rewilding strategies from ecology to foster diversity, resilience, and open competition.

Key quotes

"Our online spaces are not ecosystems, though tech firms love that word. They’re plantations; highly concentrated and controlled environments … that madden the creatures trapped within."
"Walled Gardens Have Deep Roots."
"Rewilding the internet is more than a metaphor. It’s a framework and plan."
"For tech giants, the long period of open internet evolution is over. Their internet is not an ecosystem. It’s a zoo."
"Crashes, fires and floods may simply be entropy in action, but systemically concentrated and risky infrastructures are choices made manifest — and we can make better ones."

The centralization and consolidation of the internet have turned it into a monoculture akin to the ecological disasters of German forestry, where diversity was sacrificed for efficiency, leading to widespread vulnerability.
Tech giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon have cornered almost every aspect of our digital ecosystem, from browsers and operating systems to cloud computing and social media, stifling innovation and competition.

The current state of the internet exemplifies the "pathology of command and control" seen in failed ecological systems, where the removal of complexity for the sake of simplicity and efficiency leads to fragility and decline.
Consequences of this centralization include reduced innovation, loss of privacy, and a lack of meaningful choice for both consumers and creators.

Rewilding is an ecological strategy aimed at restoring systems to their natural, diversified state, promoting resilience through complexity and spontaneous regeneration.
Applying rewilding principles to the internet involves breaking up monopolies, fostering open standards and protocols, and encouraging a multitude of platforms and services to revive the internet's foundational ethos of openness and innovation.

Initiatives to rewild the internet include regulatory reform to promote antitrust and competition, the adoption of open standards and interoperability, and the support for decentralized platforms and services.
Success stories in internet rewilding are emerging, such as the resurgence of RSS feeds, email newsletters, blogs, and the growth of federated networks like the Fediverse, showcasing the potential for a more diverse and resilient digital ecosystem.

🌳 Rewilding the internet takes inspiration from ecology to restore its natural, diverse state.
💡 "Command and control" strategies lead to fragility, both in forests and digital spaces.
🚀 Diversity in technology fosters innovation, just as biodiversity strengthens ecosystems.
🌐 Open standards and decentralization are key to a resilient and inclusive internet future.

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.