An Intranet is not The Internet
Facebook, Twitter/X, Linkedin, Tiktok et al. are all intranets.
From Wikipedia
An intranet is a computer network for sharing information, easier communication, collaboration tools, operational systems, and other computing services within an organization, usually to the exclusion of access by outsiders. The term is used in contrast to public networks, such as the Internet, but uses the same technology based on the Internet protocol suite.
Pay particular attention to easier communication as all these intranets are predominantly concerned with their users interacting with each other. Invite your friends! They’ll love it here.
No, I’m Not On […]
Quite often through my work, I’ll be asked “can you whatsapp that photo to to me?” I reply that I cannot, as I don’t use it. I never have used it and I never will. Why would I a messaging intranet? I have loads of email addresses, and a phone that can make and receive calls and messages.
“I’ll share it with you on Facebook!” I’m not on there. Just email it mate.
I think they sometimes think I’m a bit odd (I am) for not having accounts that they presume everyone has. But here’s the thing…
It’s Not Cool Anymore
When these intranets started popping up, it was new and cool. “Are you on Friends Reunited?” Of course I am, we would reply back in about 2000.
I’m just going on my recollections but as I remember it, you would find people you hadn’t seen in donkeys, send them a message and then if you wanted to, you’d exchange emails and the site had fufilled it’s purpose.
It was more of a directory of people than anything else. And that was fine. Better, actually.
But then, other companies wanted you on their intranet all the time. Forget about that old internet thing. We’ve got everything you’ll ever need right here. You like games? Check. Got a group that likes to meet up and talk about trains, planes or automobiles? Bring them here! None of you will ever need to stand up again. It’ll be awesome. Like shopping? We’ve got loads of ads that’ll catch your eye. And they’ll deliver it to you as well.
The Kids Get Angry
One day, the young will rediscover what the internet was once like and how it slowly got worse. How the adults wrung their hands about the rampant grooming and exploitation of children on various hugely profitable intranets (that were delighted to have those children on their “platforms”). And they’ll be angry. Quite rightly. They’ll (re)invent their own internet.
Unless the adults lead by example and ditch these awful places. But, they won’t.
Afterword
Tnanks to these dreadful intranets, here in the UK we now have the Online Safety Act 2023 (303 pages)!
From the NSPCC (UK charity):
The Act means that tech companies running social networking sites or search engines must promote online safety by tackling illegal material and content that is harmful to children, conducting regular risk assessments, and properly enforcing age limits.
Sounds good. Except that the legislation has attracted considerable from criticism from, for example, Article 19, the FSF and many other sites.