21st century Quote by Jaron Lanier
![“At the turn of the [21st] century it was really Sergey Brin at Google who just had the thought of, well, if we give away all the information services, but we make money from advertising, we can make information free and still have capitalism. But the problem with that is it reneges on the social…” quote by Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/10d/jaron-lanier-2241_21st-century_at-the-turn-of-the-21st-century-it-was-r_345382.jpg)
“At the turn of the [21st] century it was really Sergey Brin at Google who just had the thought of, well, if we give away all the information services, but we make money from advertising, we can make information free and still have capitalism. But the problem with that is it reneges on the social contract where people still participate in the formal economy. And it's a kind of capitalism that's totally self-defeating because it's so narrow. It's a winner-take-all capitalism that's not sustaining.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Wired Magazine, 2006
The quote critiques ad‑supported free information services as a narrow, winner‑take‑all capitalism that undermines the social contract and long‑term sustainability.
In simple terms: Free services funded by ads harm the economy and society.
Key Takeaway
Rethink business models to balance profit and public good.
Themes
capitalism
technology
economics
ethics
media
social contract
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- startup funding
- policy making
- media strategy
- consumer advocacy
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
ad‑based revenue
winner‑take‑all dynamics
public good
sustainability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we fund free information without compromising the social contract?
- What alternatives exist to ad‑driven capitalism?
A Different Perspective
Such models can still enable innovation if regulated and diversified.
