How has the shift in market capitalization from traditional companies to tech companies affected the global economy?

There are contrasting viewpoints on the role of tech companies in shaping the internet and the economy. Some believe that tech companies have dangerously overtaken our economy, with the top five companies in 2016 being tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook. They argue that the internet has not brought the expected 'long tail' of revenue to individual artists and content creators, with 80% of the revenues in the music business being derived from 1% of artists. On the other hand, Silicon Valley figures like Peter Thiel, founder of PayPal and early Facebook investor, see themselves as brilliant savants whose genius birthed the age of the internet. Thiel, an avowed libertarian, rejects the value of government aid or interference.

Government aid or interference can potentially shape the future of the internet in several ways. It can provide funding for research and development, which can lead to new technologies and innovations. It can also regulate the internet, setting rules for how it can be used and by whom. This can impact everything from privacy and security to the types of content that can be shared. Additionally, government policies can influence the accessibility and affordability of the internet, which can affect who is able to use it and how they use it.