ViralNova acquired for $100M, while The Dissolve shuts down

Re:ViralNova acquired for $100M, while The Dissolve shuts down by doctorshady on Saturday July 11, 2015 @12:49PM (#9870467)

I've been thinking about this, and the more I do, the more it feels like there's some pretty bitter irony in the way things have gone. The internet became popular (at least the way I see it) by offering an alternative to mainstream content sources, and it's gradually become the very thing it seeked to get away from.

So let's say for the purposes of arguing, between the TPP, whois privacy potentially going away, and all the other crazy/terrible ideas out there right now, things get really bad? Are you guys okay with starting over from square one?

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Re:ViralNova acquired for $100M, while The Dissolve shuts down by k2enemy on Saturday July 11, 2015 @01:35PM (#9870730)

The irony goes beyond media content type. To me, the internet promised free speech, a worldwide community, and freedom from oppressive governments. And now it is well on its way to becoming one of the greatest tools for surveillance and oppression that has ever existed.

I'm all for a fresh start.

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Re:ViralNova acquired for $100M, while The Dissolve shuts down by seanp2k2 on Saturday July 11, 2015 @05:39PM (#9871670)

Agreed on all points, the thing is, what comes after the Internet? The answer seems to be more Internet.

It's not too hard to get away from the social cable TV news like Facebook if you try. The Internet is still as subculture-focused and underground as it always was, you just have to dig a little deeper these days. There are still phreaking groups on IRC. There are still anon remailer nets. Ham radio is still a thing. x86 disassemblers are still useful. Soldering is still a valuable skill.

It's just now, there are a few generations of us out there and the barriers to entry are very low for the Internet at large. Don't give up.

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