The internet tries — and fails — to save the internet

Heather Gardner
·Video Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

The Federal Communications Commission voted to end net neutrality today. Many say this is a big loss for anyone who uses the internet — aka, everyone. The 3-2 vote will put an end to Obama-era protections on the internet.

Net neutrality is a complicated, multilevel issue that will affect individuals differently. To put it simply, providers could now have the power to control what consumers see online based on price. This vote has the potential to forever change the landscape of the internet, but it’s not a done deal just yet. Though the FCC voted to repeal the provisions, Congress could still overturn the vote.

So the waiting game has begun — which is exactly what most of the internet did not want at the start of today. Before the FCC held their vote, the internet blew up with responses in favor of keeping the space fair, free, and open. While most tweets were desperate pleas to the five FCC commissioners, others found humor in what seemed — and ultimately became — a hopeless situation.

Others, however, chose to harshly troll the Trump-appointed head of the FCC, Ajit Pai. Just hours before the monumental vote, Pai and the conservative website Daily Caller released a cheeky video titled 7 Things You Can Still Do on the Internet After Net Neutrality. The lighthearted, overly simplistic tone enraged opposers of the repeal. They lashed out at Pai.

Pai has been the butt of severe criticism in recent months but has never seemed to be bothered by it. As if the Daily Caller video weren’t evidence enough of his I-don’t-give-a-damn-what-people-say-about-me approach to the backlash, just take a look at him directly responding to online comments about him. He obviously takes his job very seriously…

But, with every tragedy — and this certainly feels like one today — there is always a silver lining. Because the FCC voted against net neutrality, YouTube star Jacksfilms gets to keep his name. He made a last-ditch vow to his 3.5 million followers that he would legally change his name to “Lit Fam” should the FCC vote down the repeal.

Something tells us that he’s pleased, on some level at least, with the FCC’s decision. That makes one.

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