Google Antitrust Probe

Everyone knows what Google is. The company founded in 1998 has become one of the most influential companies in the world. The term "google" has become synonymous with searching something on the internet. It's acquisition of YouTube for $1.65 billion in 2006 helped their growth skyrocket. They have also faced criticism for the way they advertise products, as well as facing numerous charges of violating antitrust laws.

An investigation conducted by attorney generals of 50 states, led by Texas, is trying to determine if Google is becoming too big in the advertising industry. Google controls 31% of the internet's advertising, and many small companies trying to advertise argue that they have to follow whatever Google says, or else they won't be able to reach their customers. Google has also been fined $5 billion by European regulators for forcing owners of Android powered products to install their softwares.

It's an understatement to say that Google is an influential force in the world today. Many of the things we do in our everyday lives revolve around Google. With how powerful Google is, it's not surprising that there are those that believe them to be violating regulations to increase their influence. Wether we like it or not, our world would be very different if Google wasn't the giant it is. So if Google taking control of most of the internet is necessary for the world to continue operating as it does, then we need to go along with it.

For more on the story, click here.

Comments

EOTO: Cord Cutting

The advent of streaming services has changed the way media is produced and distributed. Instead of watching scheduled programing on cable, many people watch whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want thanks to services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+ and Disney+. This has caused many to cancel their cable subscriptions and only pay for streaming services. This is known as cord cutting. Cord cutting is an effective way to save between $24-$100 on TV. With using streaming services, you can watch the channels and shows that you want to watch, eliminating channels that you don't use. Streaming also takes away most of the ads that you see when watching cable, reducing interruptions. Streaming allows you to watch whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want. You aren't confined to your house waiting for your favorite show to come on. Cord cutting also does as its name says, it removes all the cords and hassle that come with cable tv.

Innovation: How the World would be Different without it

The eight values of free expression are all important in their own right. Our world would be completely different if they weren't protected. Out of the eight values of free expression, the one I believe is the most important is innovation. Innovation allows us to progress as a society. It is the reason why most of the things we have are the way they are. Let's go back to the first computers for examples. These were machines that were highly inefficient and took up entire rooms in secure facilities. Today, our computers and even our smart phones have 100x the processing power at a much smaller scale. These more efficient, design friendly machines allow our world to run the way it does. Without men like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, we would be relying on slow, inefficient machines to do important tasks for us instead of pulling out our phones. Another area that would be completely different is the gaming industry. I am an avid gamer. Some would say a little too avid. Innovat

EOTO: Media Consolidation and Market Monopolization

Have you ever wondered who controls our media and how much of it they control? In the early 80s, 90% of media in the United States was controlled by 50 companies. Today, the same 90% is controlled by 4. This is due to the process of media consolidation. Media consolidation is the process of networks owning other networks, controlling their properties and marketing them under one name. A good example of this is Disney. Today, everything is more or less under the influence of the media giant. Disney's umbrella consists of major names such as Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Miramax, Pixar, ABC, ESPN, and most recently 20th Century Fox. So you can be watching ABC News, waiting for an important story to be aired. But if Disney doesn't like that story, it won't air. The idea of Media consolidation created the term "Family of Networks". This term refers to networks having other networks to air their content on. ESPN is a prime example of this. They air sports and

Stuck Inside

Search This Blog