Posts by Charlesy Yorks

The Windows Control Panel joins the ranks of the undead

Re: Functionality

I haven't used Excel for a long time but the same thing happened as MS introduced the ribbon menu to much wailing and cries of anguish.

So many users knew the old Alt-... menu shortcuts that they left them in there, even though they didn't actually activate the menu any more. If you pressed Pivot Table on the ribbon menu then you got a stupid new version with loads of features missing but Alt-D, P would pop up your old friend.

It worked for years and years. Probably still does but I've escaped now and refuse to use it anymore.

Telegram founder and CEO arrested in France

Re: I keep saying this... maybe some countries are starting to listen.

Reclassification of social media firms as publishers is long overdue.

It's not complex in principle - follow the money. If you make money by charging users for a service then you are a service provider. If you offer an illegal service for money then the law already has suitable ways of dealing with you.

Two things make you a publisher:

- You make money by a different means than directly charging your users. Usually by running advertising alongside content and/or selling data.

- You create and/or recommend content, including algorithmically driven recommendations and AI created content.

At the moment, the social media companies get to plead neutrality while making billions from, er, not being neutral. They favour forms of content that make them money.

The moment you introduce those two definitions of a publisher, the likes of Facebook & YouTube must make a choice. Accept the responsibilities that come with being a publisher, or give up ads and recommendation engines, directly charge your users for hosting and become true service providers.