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A comment on “Google Is as Close to a Natural Monopoly as the Bell System Was in 1956″. Parent comment

Re:“Google Is as Close to a Natural Monopoly as the Bell Sys... by bunburying on Wednesday May 10, 2017 @03:22PM (#14310863)
I think you're being a bit mischievous with you definition of customer.

You're really a user; not a customer. Customers pay. Google is selling your eyeballs to advertisers. Advertises are Google's customers.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:“Google Is as Close to a Natural Monopoly as the Bell Sys... by notatoad on Wednesday May 10, 2017 @03:50PM (#14311050)
>Customers pay

And the important distinction if you want to counter the argument that the person you're replying to is making:

Customers pay with money. "paying" with a currency like privacy or convenience isn't actually paying. If you aren't paying for something with money you aren't a customer, you're a user.

[ Parent | on HN ]