Tech companies are pushing everyone to join the fight for net neutrality
The internet is a place of endless delight — but you shouldn't take it for granted.
Today, dozens of popular tech companies and websites are urging people to protect the free and open internet by participating in a "Day of Action," an online protest meant to drum up support for net neutrality regulation.
The net neutrality rules in question prevent companies like AT&T, Charter, Comcast, and Verizon from blocking or slowing down access to services they choose. They also prevent companies from charging more money for access to specific websites (like, say, Netflix or YouTube).
The rules were installed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015 under the Obama administration and are expected to be rolled back by the Trump administration.
In total, more than 80,000 websites, companies, and organizations are uniting today to show their support of net neutrality including major tech companies like Google, Facebook, Reddit, Netflix, and Amazon.
These companies (and many others) want to keep the internet accessible to everyone, and some of them are helping the cause by prodding visitors to their site to voice their opinion by submitting a comment to the FCC.
Here are just a few of the ways companies are helping to move the cause forward on this Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality.
Netflix
Netlix has close to 100 million subscribers, so this is kind of a huge deal. The company added a banner to the top of its site that reads, "Protect Internet Freedom. Defend Net Neutrality. Take Action."
When you click the link, you end up at a site put up by the Internet Association. It takes you through a simple summary of what the FCC is trying to do using GIFs, and why you should do everything you can to stop it. At the bottom of the page, you see this action plan.
Clicking "Let's Go" takes you to a page where you can file your comment and make your opinion known to the FCC. Other websites are also linking to this page, and we suggest you visit it, too.
Netflix is also campaigning on Twitter. A tweet of a scene from Stranger Things shows what it would be like if you were watching Netflix constantly interrupted by buffering caused by your internet service provider.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Twitter is also acting as a major force for uniting people in the fight against the FCC. Along with aggregating everyone else's #NetNeutrality comments, Twitter itself is also asking for your help.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Google doesn't have a banner on its website, but it is showing to support net neutrality on Twitter.
This tweet is currently the pinned tweet on Google's Twitter feed. Hopefully it will reach most of the company's 18 million followers.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
When you first go to reddit.com, a text box pops up that slowly types out the message below. It covers up the rest of the screen, and you can't navigate the site until the complete message is written out.
When you click through on this button, you end up at the page below. It has a pre-written letter to send to the FCC. All you have to do is provide your name, address, and phone number. Don't worry, you won't get spammed with emails by providing your information. Scroll down on this site and you'll read all about what net neutrality is all about, who's supporting it, and what else you can do.
Spotify
Everyone's favorite music streaming service, Spotify, is getting in on the action too. The site has a banner running across the top that says, "Fight to save net neutrality. Find out more."
Clicking the link takes you to the Internet Association's page — the same one Netflix links to. If you've ever gotten a new credit card and forgotten to change your payment information in Spotify, you know exactly how terrible it is to not have access to your precious music. The risk of losing access to Spotify alone should be enough reason for any music fan to support net neutrality rules.
Airbnb
One of the internet's easiest places to find affordable vacation rentals is also standing by net neutrality. Airbnb wants you to know they are completely behind it and want you to take action. Clicking on "Contact Congress" takes you to another page with a pre-written letter that will be sent to the FCC.
Below this message is a place to fill out your name and address and say yes to sending the letter.
HomeAway
Airbnb wasn't the only vacation rental company to join the collective voice. HomeAway wants the internet to remain open and accessible for all, and wants all of its users to take action. Clicking through the link takes you back to the Internet Association's page.
Expedia
Another travel site, Expedia, is letting the world know it stands for net neutrality. Save #NetNeutrality appears directly below the search button, making sure everyone coming to the site sees it. Clicking through once again takes you to the Internet Association's page.
ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been a very active participant in this ongoing regulatory battle. The organization is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, legal and advocacy organization devoted to protecting the rights of everyone. So it's no surprise it's backing the net neutrality movement.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This was just a short list of the dozens of tech companies standing with net neutrality today.
If you care about the internet remaining accessible, make sure you tweet about it, sign a petition, send a letter to the FCC, check out our guide on how you can get involved, or do all of the above. The free and open internet is counting on you.
Topics FCC Net Neutrality Netflix Airbnb Reddit
Molly is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While there, she studied life sciences communication and conservation biology. Molly has worked in multiple communications positions at UW and recently acted as a science intern at Business Insider in NYC. She is a lover of all things science and tech related, and is always ready to take on a new challenge. When Molly isn't writing, she fills her time training for IRONMAN events, acting as the unofficial #1 Wisconsin athletics fan, and trying as many new foods as her budget will allow.
