The internet is kind of a predatory cesspit now
- ID
- 19491
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 30 Aug 2026, 2:40 AM
- Fetched
- 01 Sep 2026, 1:36 AM
- Provider
- Hacker News
- Category
- dev-community
- Original URL
- https://www.stephendiehl.com/posts/internet_predatory_cesspit/
- Source URL
- https://hnrss.org/best
Summary
- Score
- 3.0
- Created
- 01 Sep 2026, 1:39 AM
- Tags
- Audience
- developersvibe_coderssaas_founders
What happened
Stephen Diehl argues that the modern internet has shifted from a human-driven public square to an optimized machine for detecting and monetizing human vulnerability. He describes a system where platforms profile weaknesses, amplify them, and place payment links beside them, turning ordinary users into unpaid distributors in a pyramid of scams, courses, supplements, and outrage cycles.
Why it matters
For builders and founders, this is a provocative framing to question whether the products and funnels you ship are extracting from user anxiety or solving a real problem. It is an opinion essay with no technical detail, data, or actionable guidance—useful as a discussion prompt on ethics and product design, not as a decision-making resource.
Discussion angle
Where is the line between legitimate growth/engagement tactics and the 'predatory funnel' Diehl describes—and how should a small SaaS or AI tool builder self-regulate before platform policy or regulation forces it?