Techdirt Podcast Episode 165: Is 'Free' Bad?

from the tech-and-society dept

In the last few years, a lot of the conversation around technology in general has shifted its focus from excitement about the obvious benefits to concern about its downfalls and side effects. It even feels like there's a general sense that "technology is bad for society" in a lot of places. This comes with a lot of associated myths, including the prominent idea that "if you're not paying for something, you're the product being sold" — an idea that is, at best a massive oversimplification. So on this week's podcast we're discussing the changing cultural attitudes towards technology, especially free online services and the many myths and misunderstandings about how they operate.

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Filed Under: advertising, culture, free, podcast, technology


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  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 May 2018 @ 2:15am

    Free isn't "bad" - just look at all the demands the RIAA makes of everyone else for free.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Ilmaisetvedot, 3 May 2018 @ 2:58am

    Free is good and bad

    There are somethings that I may agree with but I am not gonna say that Free is bad. Great podcast by the way that explaining many things in details. Free can be good and it can also be bad.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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