Libra had a chilly reception at Capitol Hill, which highlighted a fundamental tension between Internet companies and lawmakers. Then, why it was inevitable that Facebook would make Libra, and why it was probably the wrong choice.
Facebook, Libra, and the Long Game
Libra is less about an immediate benefit to Facebook, and more about creating a world where companies like Facebook have the best chance to prosper. That is why Facebook gave up so much control.
Uber Questions
Uber’s S-1 raises more questions than it answers
YouTube and Toxic Videos, YouTube’s Problematic Incentives, Sins of Omission and Commission
YouTube is undergoing the same scrutiny as Facebook, and is arguably even more to blame. The problem is not simply sins of omission (not finding bad content) but sins of commission (actively promoting it).
Apple’s Services Event
Apple’s Services Event generally made sense, even if most products weren’t ready to launch. It’s fair to wonder, though, if something important is being lost.
Lyft’s S-1, Demand > Supply, Lyft Concerns
Lyft’s S-1 is out, confirming some suspicions about the ride-sharing market, and raising questions about others. The big question: can Lyft get leverage on its costs, or is Uber better placed?
Spotify’s Podcast Aggregation Play
Spotify is making a major move into podcasts, where it appears to have clear designs to be the sort of Aggregator it cannot be when it comes to music.
The Facebook Emails; The Platform Debate; Zuckerberg’s Platform Delusion, Redux
Facebook emails reveal a company that didn’t realize its real business was ads
Apple’s Social Network
Apple’s decision to stop reporting unit sales is defensible; the company, though, should provide more data to support its new growth story.
The Snap Memo, Snapchat’s Core Problem, Snap’s Bad Positioning
Evan Spiegel wrote a long memo to Snapchat that laid out the company’s problems perhaps more starkly than he appreciated.