Now... trying to keep this here on this board... I'm not suggesting any position, opinion, view, etc., just that this is actually a quite interesting legal matter that is ongoing, and is under review at the highest level...

Are social media companies a public utility, or a publisher?

Hmmmm.... interesting, eh? I must say, I haven't thought of it in light of that particular question. Whatever becomes the answer to that is massive.

They certainly are not a utility. Not anywhere close to the definition of a utility to me.

(02-27-2024, 12:05 PM)Replying to McDonoughDawg They certainly are not a utility.  Not anywhere close to the definition of a utility to me.

I guess utilities are just limited to power, gas, water, such as that. Telephones have never been viewed as a utility.

Here is one caveat... maybe?... just me thinking out loud... what business is conducted by way of social media these days? How much of conducting life... shall we say... necessities... takes place via social media?

I tend to agree with you in that social media, per my normal usage, is just a frill... a way of communicating with folk over personal topics. Maybe I'm ignorant of some business-necessity within them? It would seem that would have to be the case for them to fall under a "utility".

Also... would a utility not be fully government regulated, to some degree? Maybe that is a big part of the ongoing question being reviewed?

This debate has been going on for years. They want to be platforms because if affords them certain protections from litigation, however, they also want to be able to moderate their content. Shouldn't have it both ways IMO.

I also only have a simple understanding of this subject

A wise man once said, "Facebook is the debil."

One thing I COULD understand being regulated as a utility is the internet, in general... especially now, with TONS of business taking place purely via the internet. Internet access could probably truly be a utility.

Amazon
eBay
Etsy

People order groceries online and go pick them up or have them delivered
I sometimes order pizza online
I make hotel reservations, airline reservations, rental car reservations, travel tour reservations, etc., etc., etc... all online.

I used to think that internet access is more so a personal choice... maybe even a luxury. I wonder about that now, as so much is done over the internet... and it is done worldwide, too.

So, where does social media fall into that category... if it does, at all? It seems to be sort of a blend.

(02-27-2024, 12:38 PM)Replying to dncdawg A wise man once said, "Facebook is the debil."

Yes He Did!

I HOTD online