The Social Utility

The Social Utility

If you study economic cycles, you can watch the evolution of a disruptive technology throughout its lifecycle, from a specific product to a competitive industry. The last phase in the evolutionary chain is the formation of a utility.

Used as Intended

The recent interference in the U.S. election, which all the American intelligence agencies have confirmed, is a proof point that social media is now a utility and needs some form of regulation. Regulation is a thorny issue wrapped in individual freedom -- but it is also a logical way out of an impasse.

Popular social sites -- including Facebook, Twitter and Airbnb -- provide tools that enable users to find and segment.

 When Russia manipulates elections via Facebook, or when ISIS recruits followers on Twitter, or when racist landlords deny rentals to blacks and then offer them to whites through Airbnb, commentators and companies describe those activities as "manipulation" or "abuse" of today's ubiquitous websites and apps.

Light-Touch Regulation

Regulation comes down to access for any person or entity with a beneficial and productive need for the utility's services. In the electricity markets, this means stable pricing for all and a commitment to serve as a common carrier.

In broadcast industries (radio and TV), slices of electromagnetic spectrum play the role of roads that the broadcasters use through grants (licenses) from the people.

Social media use to professional status seems a logical thing to do. Establishing a certification or licensing process, plus capturing a user's license number when accessing some of social media's higher functions, would establish an uncomplicated way of keeping bad actors out of the networks, or at least making them traceable. In case you are wondering, this is the basic process of getting a building permit.

But We trying to reach millions of people on a social network is functionally like climbing a utility pole and messing with the wires.