i've been told that there is a "tech backlash" for years but the closest i've ever seen -- in the US -- to real consequences has mostly come from republicans angry about grifters being banned

its just a never-ending circus in which

* people freak out about a new thing every week ("reddit ignored signs that nickelback fans are mobilizing"!)

* zuckerberg called to toothless hearing to get yelled at by "is this thing on" senators

* people post "haha STEM bro" memes

a large part of the inertia comes from the deadening realization -- ironically from people that repeat "technology is political" like a mantra -- that control of social media is actually a political contest with real stakes

not only are there divided preferences about what to do, but also a variety of actors very much determined to fight for the commanding heights and shiv their rivals

this realization -- also coupled with many people being exposed to the unintended consequences of things they pushed for ("crack down harder!" *gets banned* "no not like that!") -- makes things much harder.

in europe its a vastly different story (for better or worse). but in the US its just a lot of kayfabe