Time will inform if Fb being down on Oct 4th would be the single best system failure in tech in 2021. There’s been some good writing explaining what went flawed (and the truth that errors occur), however predictably when websites and networks fail like this there are reactions on social media. Ultimately, particularly within the WordPress neighborhood, relating to company websites and social networks somebody is there to wag a finger and say “See? Own Your Own Content.” Me included.
This time round — perhaps as a result of it was Fb or I am simply exhibiting my age — it felt totally different saying “Own your own content.” Sure, you need to personal your personal content material. However that is not attainable for many individuals in the present day, and lots of have been hit tougher than you might notice.
There are two primary teams of individuals utilizing the net in the present day — those that have management of their on-line presence, and people who don’t.
For those who personal a enterprise and it is primarily working on a social community or within the palms of a 3rd celebration community like Twitch or YouTube, you need to personal your personal content material — in case you can afford to take action. This can be a message that WordPress and different open supply options can get behind to teach extra individuals. That stated, I’ve but to see a transparent enterprise case and technical roadmap for shifting somebody from a enterprise on Fb to a WordPress-based resolution, and I do not see internet hosting corporations focusing on influencers at Instagram or Tiktok. That’s in all probability as a result of these networks draw a lot consideration and ROI that within the minds of their customers it is merely not price their time to take care of a web site or weblog as nicely.
The second group is these with out management. There are total nations and areas the place Fb wasn’t simply their method into the web. Primarily it was their web. Most individuals on this class are utilizing Fb on their cellular gadgets with both a browser or the Fb app. Proudly owning their very own content material is not actually an choice. It is these individuals who undergo essentially the most when Amazon S3 or a CDN fails — or a crucial communication and enterprise instrument all of the sudden goes offline for over six hours on a workday.
Really proudly owning your personal content material just isn’t as straightforward as broadcasting it on Twitter. Whereas WordPress does democratize publishing, there are various locations and numerous conditions in the present day that don’t or — maybe worse — cannot benefit from WordPress. How can WordPress assist these two teams? Can it? These are questions I might love to debate — particularly the second group which poses a much bigger problem and a better long-term want.
The subsequent time I say “own your own content” — and I’ll nonetheless say it — I am going to take into consideration this. Perhaps you’ll too.