The problem of the web: Can we prioritize both participatory practices and privacy?

This paper is a critical case study tracing the professional history of self-professed open educator over more than two decades. It frames narrative an individual as window on broader arc field, from early learning means widening participation, through rise participatory web at scale, to current datafied and extractive infrastructure higher education. outlines how field online education has changed, social societal forces shaping use have shifted. Through these lenses change, explores dilemma facing this juncture: that structure threatens privacy, governance structures, spirit open, sharing. The problem one without direct solutions but does consider ways educators might mitigate their practice in directions.