Most importantly, there’s the understanding that without the (free) contributions of users, the network has no real value — and, indeed, that the network’s most popular and active users are extremely valuable to keeping others on the platform.
@AskTheDevil I imagine sometimes - what these platforms would be if one of them hand chosen Wikimedia's business plan - become a foundation?
@johnverdon Or what would have happened if some similar corporate interest had decided to spend billions dominating Wikimedia's space?
@AskTheDevil That's a very interesting question. I think being a foundation is defined by laws about whether and how it Can Be sold.
I don't think a foundation can be 'put on the market'.
But if they started to change the laws???
@johnverdon The big tech industry, that have created all these gated online communities, have been operating under the assumption that users are a resource they can treat essentially like cattle.
I would love if people proved them mistaken.