The Intersection of Product Vision and Platform Regulation: Building a Sustainable Future

The Intersection of Product Vision and Platform Regulation: Building a Sustainable Future

Introduction:

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, two key areas of focus have emerged as critical for success: product vision and platform regulation. While seemingly unrelated, these two concepts share common ground in their quest to create sustainable and impactful outcomes. This article explores the importance of product vision in guiding companies towards their long-term goals, and the need for better rules, rather than stricter referees, in the realm of internet platform regulation.

Product Vision: Guiding the Path to Success

A product vision serves as a compass for organizations, providing a clear direction and purpose. It establishes the initial beachhead for a company, outlining how to lead from there and expand further. The beauty of a product vision lies in its flexibility, allowing teams to adapt and navigate from their current state to the desired future. While not set in stone, a product vision must be shared among all functions within a company to ensure alignment and optimal investment at each stage. Overcommunication becomes key in keeping everyone on the same page and working towards the common goal.

Platform Regulation: Flipping the Power Dynamic

The current challenges faced by social media giants and online platforms stem from a flawed business model that prioritizes selling people's attention to advertisers. This model incentivizes companies to reward content that manipulates emotions, leading to a discourse that lacks thoughtfulness, civility, and intellectual diversity. To address this issue, we must shift the power dynamic and give people the autonomy to choose what they pay attention to. By introducing business models that allow users to pay with money instead of attention, we can foster a more balanced and meaningful platform experience. Instead of relying on platform curations or demanding constant regulation, we should focus on business models that prioritize serving people over advertisers.

Common Ground: Aligning Long-term Goals and User Autonomy

While product vision and platform regulation may appear disparate, they both seek to create sustainable outcomes. A clear product vision enables companies to anticipate long-term opportunities and challenges, while platform regulation aims to establish a healthier online environment. By incorporating user autonomy into both realms, we can bridge the gap between product vision and platform regulation. Allowing users to choose the content they consume aligns with the flexible nature of a product vision, while also contributing to a more thoughtful and diverse online discourse.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Embrace the Power of Overcommunication: Ensure that all functions within your organization are aware of the potential steps outlined in your product vision. Regularly communicate progress, challenges, and investment needs to keep everyone aligned and working towards the common goal.

• 2. Prioritize User Autonomy: As an online platform or service provider, explore business models that allow users to pay with money instead of attention. By empowering users to choose what they engage with, you can foster a more balanced and meaningful platform experience.

• 3. Engage in Advocacy: Encourage the development of better rules and regulations for online platforms. Support initiatives that prioritize user autonomy, intellectual diversity, and thoughtful discourse. By advocating for change, you can contribute to a healthier online environment and shape the future of platform regulation.

Conclusion:

In the ever-evolving world of business and technology, the intersections between product vision and platform regulation hold immense potential. By embracing a long-term mindset, aligning all functions within an organization, and prioritizing user autonomy, companies can navigate towards their desired future. Simultaneously, by fostering a business environment that serves people instead of advertisers, we can create platforms that encourage thoughtful, civil, and intellectually diverse conversations. Together, let us build a sustainable future where product vision and platform regulation coexist harmoniously.