DANGEROUS PROTOCOLS

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

Protocols are a potential alternative to walled technology gardens. They offer a level of interoperability and customization that platforms don't. A historical look at protocols suggests that their purpose has always been to simplify coordination and communication, leading to conformity over time. Protocols are not owned or mediated by any central authority, so switching protocols isn't as easy as switching platforms. While protocols are not necessarily bad, it is important to acknowledge the dangerous implications of increasingly outsourcing more decisions to them.