May 10, 2024

We Need To Rewild The Internet

In a recent essay, technologists Maria Farrell and Robin Berjon describe the “extractive and fragile monoculture” of the modern-day internet. Drawing a line from 18^th century forestry practices to equivalencies in technology today, the authors noted, "When we simplify complex systems, we destroy them, and the devastating consequences sometimes aren’t obvious until it’s too late”.

Like ecologists, they suggest taking a whole-systems approach – one that incorporates intellect and emotion; checks and balances; competition and diversity.

"Ecologists also know how to keep going when others first ignore you and then say it’s too late, how to mobilize and work collectively, and how to build pockets of diversity and resilience that will outlast them, creating possibilities for an abundant future they can imagine but never control. We don’t need to repair the internet’s infrastructure. We need to rewild it."

Read the full article here.