The OG Social Network: Other People’s Websites

The article discusses the potential threat to Google’s business model posed by the rise of walled gardens or silos of content that are inaccessible to its search engine. These include platforms like Slack, Discord, and Substack, which are closed off to external access. The author suggests that Google should have embraced the open web as a social network, emphasizing the value of individual websites and the links between them. Google’s PageRank algorithm, which is integral to its success, might not have been possible in today’s online environment. The article expresses optimism that the open web will prevail in the long run.