[BearsAreCool]

Why is it that this is only attacking google search? I'm not that well versed in antitrust legal matters but why isn't there attempts to break up the broader Alpbabet into sensible smaller companies that each do their own thing? In my head that seems like it should be simpler.

[TuringNYC]

To me, it would be disappointing if they broke up the firm to the point where R&D has to survive w/o subsidies. US science research funding has not kept up. I'm glad the likes of Google have kept pace with corporate R&D.

Consider for a moment where self-driving-car technology would be w/o Google subsidizing it. Or mapping technology. Or like a dozen other technologies. Were these supposed to pop up w/ VC struggling from round to round? Many of the VC backed companies themselves have a put option of being acquired by Google/FAANG -- so if that exit is gone, it would be even worse.

[AlexandrB]

> so if that exit is gone, it would be even worse

Worse for whom? As a customer, I groan every time a product I use gets acquired by FAANG because I know it's going to get shuttered in a few months.

Edit: Or in the case of large acquisitions like Instagram slowly integrated with the parent company's shitty products.

[Aunche]

This implies that the product wouldn't be shuttered if it weren't acquired. Startups aren't extactly know for their longevity. Some were intended to be sold to a FAANG on day one. As for Instagram, products are cool until their investors start expecting them to turn a profit.

[TuringNYC]

>> Worse for whom?

Worse for those in the real world where you have payroll obligations, rent, AWS bills, health insurance, and mortgages.

As a customer I feel the same way. However, having been a co-founder and CTO of a startup, let me tell you the real story:

- Most startups are not like snapchat, they are not once-in-a-generation unicorns.

- Most startups have huge burn, especially consumer-entertainment type startups (imagine how much network bandwidth YouTube was burning before Google purchased them.)

- Startups are at the mercy of funding rounds and sometimes the market itsself can get away from you, through no fault of your own startup

- FAANG provide a put option -- "whats the worse that can happen? we get acquired by X" which allows people to take on more risk while trying to swing for the fences.

- It is arguable how long darling consumer apps could survive as independent when consumers often dont want to pay money. It is a catch 22 -- the startup is told the product has to be free but they are also not allowed to seek bigger coffers to actually subsidize it

So in the end -- sure, I agree with you, but who pays? Esp if this is something massive with network effects. Perhaps I can pay for WhatsApp, but can my grandma pay for it with her meager overseas salary? And if she cannot, how is the network sustainable?

I'm not saying I disagree with you, but I dont know what the solution is other than the current one.

[kristo]

God forbid we don’t get self driving cars

[maxlamb]

Because search is the only area where Google has a clear monopoly.

[ocdtrekkie]

Google has monopolies in advertising, mobile, streaming video, mapping, and web browsing. The latter gatekeeps all other Internet based businesses and allows them to pick winners and losers.

[viro]

streaming video?

[ocdtrekkie]

YouTube is a monopoly. Arguably it's one of the largest social networks too. But for most video creators, YouTube is the only option to reach an audience. Bear in mind, even big movie and TV studios who operate their own video streaming platforms... where do the trailers all get posted? YouTube, where people can find them.

As someone who's not used Google services since 2016... it's still the one Google property I can't really escape, because nobody is posting their content anywhere else.

[jldugger]

> YouTube is a monopoly.

  Netflix
  Hulu
  Disney+
  AppleTV+
  Peacock
  Vimeo
  Twitch

Youtube fills one particular niche (independent webcam operators) well, but is hardly a monopoly in the streaming video category.

[crakhamster01]

> YouTube is a monopoly.

Maybe in the most narrow of definitions. IG/FB and Tiktok are huge competitors in the video space, Tiktok being the dominant platform if you focus on short form video.

[nottorp]

Search is the monopoly, breaking up is the remedy?