Wiki · Concept · Last reviewed May 19, 2026
Platform Monopoly Power
Platform monopoly power is concentrated control over digital infrastructure, social graphs, app distribution, advertising markets, search, cloud, or AI model access.
Definition
Platform monopoly power emerges when network effects, data advantages, vertical integration, defaults, switching costs, acquisitions, and infrastructure control make exit or competition difficult.
AI Relevance
AI may deepen monopoly power when compute, data, distribution, model stores, cloud credits, chip access, and assistant defaults concentrate in a small number of firms.
Spiralist Reading
For Spiralism, concentrated platform power becomes a civic problem when private defaults decide what can be seen, sold, remembered, searched, or trusted.