Le paludi della piattaforma: Riprendiamoci Internet (Not)

by Geert Lovink

Quando ci svegliamo controlliamo la mail e i social network già prima di fare colazione. Poi iniziamo a lavorare su G Suite mentre chiacchieriamo con gli amici su WhatsApp tra una riunione e l’altra su Zoom. Le nostre case sono diventate i nostri uffici, e somigliano sempre più a call center. Sembra di essere in trappola. Condannati a uno scroll infinito di fake news, teorie cospirazioniste, meme cringe e risse virtuali, sentiamo crescere la noia e la frustrazione. Internet è diventato siamo impantanati nelle piattaforme. Se l’obiettivo era usare la pandemia per fare un bel reset e ripartire, abbiamo fallito. Allora «come riemergere dalla palude e depiattaformare le piattaforme?» Partendo da questa domanda, Lovink si addentra nei meccanismi con cui le big tech intrappolano l’individuo, possiedono e modellano i mercati, acuiscono le disuguaglianze sociali ed economiche. E traccia una rotta per uscire dalla uno slancio di immaginazione collettiva che ci aiuti a sfuggire al potere delle piattaforme e a riprenderci internet. Geert Lovink è teorico dei media e studioso di Internet. È autore, tra gli altri, di Uncanny Networks (2002), Dark Fiber (2002), e Nichilismo digitale. L’altra faccia delle piattaforme (2019). Coideatore della mailing list Nettime e di ADILKNO (Foundation for the Advancement of Illegal Knowledge), nel 2004 ha fondato l’Institute of Network Cultures all’Università delle Scienze Applicate di Amsterdam.

Genres: Technology, Design

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2022

About the author

Geert Lovink is a Research Professor of Interactive Media at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) and a Professor of Media Theory at the European Graduate School. Lovinl is the founding director of the Institute of Network Cultures, whose goals are to explore, document and feed the potential for socio-economical change of the new media field through events, publications and open dialogue. As theorist, activist and net critic, Lovink has made an effort in helping to shape the development of the web.

Reviews

[Ineke Vermeulen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of interesting perspectives in this book and also a lot of references to other theories& writers. Unfortunately these writers are discussed without an introduction, which makes it hard to read if you haven't read all these other books first. A bit of an explanation beforehand would have been nice. On the upside: I've added a lot of books to my 'want to read' list after reading this book.

[billyhs · Rating 2 out of 5]

hard to rate, the ideas are really interesting (esp. the Network vs the Platform) but the writing is very poor - jumbled, hard to follow, incoherent! aware of the irony of immediately posting on a Platform my thoughts … i guess im just …. Stuck ….

[chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ambiguo, contradictorio.
Propone una red abierta y comunitaria para derrocar el monopolio de las plataformas por parte de las grandes empresas tecnológicas, criticando que no es posible crear comunidades fuera de las plataformas. Sin embargo, no sé qué democratización de la tecnología pretende este autor, cuando claro está que su público objetivo son solo los intelectuales occidentales…
Por otra parte, hagas lo que hagas lo estarás haciendo mal: nada se puede hacer contra los gigantes tecnológicos…

Varias veces repite que el exceso de datos provoca ofuscación y fatiga, ¡y bien que lo demuestra!

No era lo que buscaba, pero tampoco creo que le pueda interesar a nadie más allá del gremio de académicos anclados en el Internet de los 90.

[Jessica Diesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s been a long time since i’ve enjoyed theory this much

[theo ploeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrote a review for the book section of Gonzo (circus) magazine. It is a great book to get a deeper understanding of the current developments on the internet. Although the author stresses that more action is needed, he doesn't link those developments to the actions taken by designers. I guess there is enough material there for a new book ;- )

[Airton Zanon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the topic and I was really excited to read this book, the idea of platforms ruling everything and creating monopolies of niches is something that I hate seem that "internet" became this.

For what I was expecting of the book, I felt that some stuff was off topic. Lots of information that linked to some other books / contents / videos but sometimes it was overwhelming.

[Tara Brooky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was inquisitive theory challenging our everyday use of the internet and its dilapidated state. As the text progressed, so did its decent into theory of networks, eventually passing the threshold of casual tech user understanding.

[Spumito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Infumable. Puede que lo empezase con unas expectativas que no se han cumplido, buscaba un libro para reflexionar y de verdad que prácticamente no he podido hacerlo. Parte de ideas interesantes pero las enrevesa de tal manera que es imposible saber de qué coño te está hablando: dice mucho pero cuenta poco. Yo no sé si es cosa de la traducción o del propio autor, pero de verdad que no he sacado ninguna conclusión de este libro. Igual es culpa mía, yo qué sé... Pero tengo la sensación de haber perdido el tiempo.

[Nuctres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geert, primo, eres un cenizo. Menos expansivo que Tristes por Diseño y, por fortuna, un pelín menos depresivo. Eso hace que sólo sea muy doomer, y no sencillamente para abrirse las venas. Siguen siendo divagaciones y puntadas, a veces, con poco hilo, pero dadas por una persona que sabe mucho de lo que habla. Muy obtuso para quienes no sean frikis de la cultura de internet, muy particular para filósofos sociales, muy sadcore para la gente a quien la red de redes le salvó la vida.

[Dylan Devincenti · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un sacco di pagine per nulla di concreto.
Pensiero dell’autore si pone come un pensiero super orizzontale in termini globali, peccato che questa globalità fa riferimento solamente ai paesi più sviluppati. Libro che si pone super progressista ma un progressismo da social che tiene conto di battaglie che piacciono all’utente medio di Instagram che vuole lamentarsi vivendo nell’agiatezza. Peccato non si possa unleggere un libro.

[Flossie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting exploration of internet addiction and how to decentralise. I think the structure could be tweaked a little as it was confusing at times.

[Svitlana Midianko · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Technology's goal is to make us better, not dumber. Wait one second. Is that true?"
my notes: https://www.notion.so/svitlanamm/stuc...

[Paula Llinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, learned a lot.

[Isa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book presents a very relevant premise, but ultimately struggles to turn its critique into a practical read.