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Yep. In many places in the world, the internet is Facebook/WhatsApp/YouTube and whatever portal each of your apps allows you to peer into.

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This is no different than the late 90s, when the Internet was AOL for a huge number of people. In 20 years it'll surely be some other platform, too, as long as the relatively open "Internet" foundation persists.

The concern is those foundations though since google obviously has influence when it comes to it.

I think there is an important distinction. Back then, it was all on the PC, which had several hard-fought battles to keep that platform open. Today's main-stream computing platforms (other than PC) are not as open. Replacing the operating system can be impossible. Installing applications outside the designated channels can be impossible.

Smartphone manufacturers can and do have absolute control over the software you run on your device. That was not true in the 90s.

If by "....in many places...." you mean the majority, then I agree.

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