We are living in a world owned by tech companies. People have 6 hours of screen time on average, mostly spent in capitalist apps like Fb Google Amazon Insta Reddit Youtube Chatgpt etc, and these companies shape people’s opinions.
Without owning these apps, or creating an alternative that people use, it is very hard to change anything, because they can manipulate people easily, and actually people became zombies with this much screen usage.
So what is the plan? How can we create alternatives? Is there a socialist development movement? Or how can we own the existing companies? How can the govnments use these companies in a socialist environment?
Some would have said the same about capitalist ownership of TV stations late last century and of newspapers and radio before that.
It’s definitely a challenge but ultimately what will likely drive socialism in the west is the collapse of material conditions. You believe the propaganda because you’re comfortable enough to not care to question it. But when things get bad, when quality of life is in the shitter these methods will not be that effective.
Socialist software development like all aspects of the superstructure and base will be driven by who runs things. If the workers run things then we’ll have socialist software development, if the bourgeoisie do then we won’t have it in measurable quantities. Don’t put the cart before the horse.
As to using some of these companies in the event of a socialist government I feel the abusive algorithms would need to be removed first. Some would be shut down because they’re not necessary or just abusive, those that need replacements would be replaced. Google for instance in its search capacity could be replaced.
I mean just how bad does it have to get for people to wake up? Look at America, ICE, the anti-women, anti-trans, anti-gay policies he’s pushing, deportations, etc.