Should Facebook and Google be regulated like utilities?

[parochial boy]

idk, ask one of the millions of people who don't use Facebook

Millions of people don't use the New York Subway either - doesn't mean it isn't a monopoly

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I don' t see how firing one guy for a sexist memo makes up for undermining public services and utilities or labour rights. Google happily sign up to the worst form of liberalism, I'm not going to argue with that.

[Virginiá]

I don't know if it's just about how big they are and how many competitors they have. Sure that is a big deal, but assuming the question largely hinges on their place in the economy (and not merely the power they hold over society with their near-monopoly status), what also matters is how productive the companies in question have become. Is Google still innovating, or has it turned to unsustainable levels of rent seeking? I'm not entirely sure Google has become a drag on innovation in their field(s).

[Blue3]

Btw... HOW would you even split it up? People in New England have "New England Facebook," people in California have "California Facebook"? Different apps for posting a photo and posting a status?

All of that would defeat the purpose.

Plus it's FREE.

And it's possible they'll do something unpopular, and a competitor will take advantage of it and rise. Myspace was once the big social networking website. It could happen again.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Folks, two words, say it with me:

Nationalize. Amazon.

Lol no

[All Along The Watchtower]

They're free. What's the need?

"free"

[Blue3]

They're free. What's the need?

"free"

What do we pay to use them?

And what need do people have to use them?

[dead0man]

How else will people know that there nephew has started 2nd grade?