ProBlogger Banned by StumbleUpon: Whose Content? Our Content!

Just saw this from Darren over at ProBlogger. Seems StumbleUpon didn’t like the recent surge from the love-in. Now, StumbleUpon has the right to control who uses their service. However, social bookmarking services make their living on OUR content, the content we produce which they then funnel through their service.

David (theGypsy) had a similar point here. We make these companies what they are, and then they treat us like they are doing us a favor by letting us do so. What service or product, precisely, do any of these sites provide that do not directly or indirectly start with us, the online community? Is it right that they should be able to dictate terms to the people who generate the content they make money upon? What is that old expression about biting the hand that feeds?

Remember the DVD code debacle? Kevin and Digg kept face in the community by recognizing where the real power is in social media…the users. The reason Darren got banned was most likely (I can’t presume to speak for Stumble) the Social Media Love-In, which was a whole bunch of us getting together and exchanging our connections. Stumble benefits financially from us and our connections, and yet Darren is being penalized for something that will bring Stumble profits. How can this be right?

Here is StumbleUpon’s contact page. Make your opinions known.

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