People are losing control over phones (GS Paper 2, Governance)
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Context
- This article is about the evolution of the Internet, the rise of mobile apps, and the ongoing battle between businesses and app store gatekeepers over control and revenue sharing.
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Evolution of the Internet:
- The Internet was designed to operate in a distributed manner, empowering individual machines to determine service connections without centralized control.
- Services like emails, websites, and chats flourished, fostering information sharing and e-commerce due to the Internet’s decentralized nature.
- Yahoo initially provided website directories, but the proliferation of sites led to the rise of Google’s search engine for efficient navigation.
Rise of Mobile Devices:
- With the advent of mobile devices, particularly the iPhone, website optimization for handheld screens became imperative.
- Apple’s App Store, launched in 2008, facilitated the distribution of third-party native apps, offering enhanced user experiences.
- However, native apps posed security risks due to direct machine access, prompting Google’s Native Client sandbox initiative in 2009.
Web Standards vs. Native Apps:
- While native apps offered immersive experiences, they raised concerns about security and user privacy, contrasting with the safer environment provided by web standards.
- Despite the security benefits of web browsers and JavaScript, businesses favored native apps for greater control and user engagement.
- The app store model introduced app taxes, prompting backlash from businesses and anti-trust cases against dominant players like Google and Apple.
Ongoing Battle:
- Anti-trust litigation and disputes over app store policies highlight the ongoing struggle between businesses and app store gatekeepers.
- Despite legal challenges, app stores remain reluctant to relinquish revenue from app taxes, fueling demands for alternatives such as Indian app stores.
- However, users are urged to reconsider the drawbacks of native apps, recognizing the dominance of Apple and Google in the app ecosystem.
Conclusion:
- The evolution of the Internet from decentralised connectivity to centralized app ecosystems has sparked debates over security, control, and revenue sharing.
- While native apps offer immersive experiences, they come with inherent risks and dependencies on app store gatekeepers.
- Ultimately, users must weigh the trade-offs between convenience and security, recognizing the dominance of app store giants in shaping the digital landscape.
