Yeah yeah, I know the web is a composite of servers everywhere. But of course, since nothing in this life (or the next one for you reincarnated blokes out there) happens without cash flow, it got me thinking--- who really owns the web? And I mean own in the sense that if a corporation withdrew all of their green paper influence from the web, how much would it affect everyone else?
In a sugar sweet world, we'd all like to say we're online for the sake of aesthetics, or because we want to communicate with the world. But in truth, we're still consumers in this realm just like in the real world... news, music, video, fashion, porn, and of course art. It used to be that geeks and hackers ran the web, but consumerism has forced them to the underground. Ads and product links fuel the web's existence now. But who has the most control?
Of course, I leave that to you to ponder. Even with 2 cups of coffee and that ringing in my brain like Daffy just got his bill blown off by a Fudd shotgun, I'm not awake enough to drop names. Or maybe I just don't want to. Nobody is paying me to do so. Peace.
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Read more Mark Sahm at Blogimus Prime, hosted by Magic Junk.
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* What's Playing on Cityfilter (my iPod) right now: "Microphone Fiend" by Eric B. and Rakim, from the album Follow The Leader.
Article comments
1 - Hashim
who? who? who? Drop names, man!
2 - Aaman
google - check out google-watch
3 - Aaman
The largest advertiser on the web is possibly Microsoft
4 - Al Barger
There are a lot of companies that have a big impact, Google looking particularly obvious. But really, Google could just go away tomorrow, and there'd be barely a ripple in practical terms. The most visible presence is not necessarily the most important.
The main companies that OWN the web are probably six or eight companies that actually own and maintain most of the backbone lines. I haven't followed this foodchain for awhile, but if one of those companies disappeared, then you'd know it.
5 - HW Saxton
The Illuminati owns the web,silly kids!
6 - jadester
well, there's the organisations in charge of handing out IP addresses and website domains. I *think* some of them are businesses/run businesses too, but some of them are simply not-for-profit organisations.
And I expect there's a select few large hosting companies that are responsible for hosting the larger domains. But there are so many servers out there these days, that you'd be hard-pressed to find any one company that could be said to "own" the web.
I'm also pretty sure the "backbone" of the 'net's infrastructure - the huge collections of cables running through the US, and connecting countries to other countries, along with some of the "critical" DNS servers, are still owned and run by the likes of the US military, as they have been sicne the birth of the world wide web as we know it.
7 - gonzo marx
it's like asking "who owns the air" ??
the web itself is defined by the Protocols that run it..as designed by ARPAnet it can withstand up to 3/4 of it disappearing in a minute...and still work..
anyone can "own" their little piece of it, from self hosting a vanity web site to the Massive Multiplayer Online Games with 100 or more servers set in a cluster...
but that is just the "address"...not the Web..
just my shekel's worth
Excelsior!
8 - Mark Sahm
Gonzo: I enjoyed your air analogy. I guess I should have put 'owns' in quotes, eh?
I guess the thing that worries me is whether Uncle Sam will restructure our Internet laws to give corporations more power on the internet than the Average Joe Domainbuyer and Serverhoster. Anyone can be bought out.
Some corporate juggernaut has to have already found a way to purchase structural backup systems within the web. It seems too easy to believe that we all couldn't be crippled if they went down (or worse, shut down on purpose.)
Maybe I'm just being paranoid. What do you think?
9 - Mark Sahm
Holy hanging breasts of time, Batman! It's been a year since this entry?!?
I feel so old now... :o)
Although I suppose I should shy away from bringing attention to my first entry here at BC since it was not as thought out as I'd prefer. However, I accept it as a stepping stone, since I originally came here to help refine my craft. Which is how we all should see our nostalgic pieces.
It would be interesting to see how each Blogcritic's first entry compares to one of their last or latest. Although I doubt too many would be willing to drag that inaugural skeleton out of their blogcloset... I can still imagine the juxtapositions though.
Basically, I owe a shout out to the captain Eric Olsen for putting this whole shindig together. In a year's time, I found the 1st person voice I needed to write the novel I'm working on right now.
So thanks. Everything in this world may not have a purpose, but I'm glad some things do. Peace.
10 - urscrewed
it behooves me,an puzzles me to no end,the ignorance on mankinds part. the masons,a occult organization,which satan is the head,illumnati which branchs out an touchs senators,rep.an so on,an so forth down the food chain. no aliens or ufos,no,demons, yes thats rite,people will believe aliens,will screw aliens,an believe in them,an would you screw a demon,nay,but satan,he puts forth the blinders,aliens,an you believe,because you want to believe,but if you knew they were demons,....hmmmm!maybe not!! abductions,yep,an it all boils down to sex,demons like to f**k,so you are screwed. wake up,dumb ass,demons,not aliens,think about it,you will get it.an obama bin laden,he gona be the guy to kill our own military,covert to unified army,take our weapons,an freedom,why,its his work,after all he is a muslim,remember the guy in russia that said that usa will fall,an they will never have to fire a shot!krushauev,somethin like that!we will have no borders,we already have no morals,most women,got no virtue,or morals,welcom satan,he aint no alien!i can go on,but want! you cant believe truth!!
11 - Dr Dreadful
Okaaaaay...