The Internet, too, has strong attributes of a public good…
“The Internet, too, has strong attributes of a public good, and has undermined the “private good” attributes of old media. Internet service providers obviously can exclude people, but the actual content -the values, the ideas- can be shared with no loss of value for the consumer. It is also extremely inexpensive and easy to share material. Sharing is built into the culture and practices of the Web and has made it difficult for the subscription model to be effective.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Internet functions as a public good, allowing free, cheap sharing of ideas, which challenges subscription-based private media models.
In simple terms: The web lets ideas spread freely, hurting paid media.
Key Takeaway
Support open access to information.
Themes
technology
media
economics
public good
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
academic
policy-oriented
When to use this quote
- online education
- news consumption
- content creation
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
information theory
digital culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can creators be fairly compensated?
- What policies protect public good while rewarding creators?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on free sharing can undermine creators’ revenue.