Covid-19 & The Techlash
We used to complain about the big tech’s dominance.
Now, we heavily rely on them and are glad they exist.
The new virus changes so much in our world, and I won’t repeat all the apparent ramifications. However, an interesting trend emerged:Normal life grinds to a halt, but so does the Techlash (Tech-backlash), which dominated the tech coverage for the past three years.
While working on my upcoming book about the Techlash and “Tech Crisis Communication,” I realized that this pandemic is also affecting the tech companies’ coverage, so, I’m adding a new chapter to discuss it.
There’s still a lot of criticism, for example, about the spread of misinformation, but the change in the critical tone (actually complimenting the companies’ services and work) – is noteworthy.
In this short post, you are invited to see how this current trend started and developed.
* I promise to update it with new relevant articles:
March 15, 2020 When Facebook Is More Trustworthy Than the President The New York Times - Ben Smith
March 16, 2020 COVID-19 Reminds Us: Social Media Is Good, Actually Reason – Elizabeth Nolan Brown
March 17, 2020 As Politicians Are Still Looking To Destroy The Internet, Covid-19 Reminds Us WhySocial Media Is Not Just Good, But Saving Lives TechDirt - Mike Masnick
March 18, 2020 Tech's moment to shine (or not) Axios - Ina Fried
March 20, 2020Has the Coronavirus Killed the Techlash? WIRED - Steven Levy
March 21, 2020 Facebook has moved fast during coronavirus outbreak, and it could restore the company’s reputation CNBC - Salvador Rodriguez
Under quarantine, media is actually social TechCrunch - Josh Constine
OK, Fine, Let’s All Get Back on Facebook The Wall Street Journal - Joanna Stern
March 23, 2020 Big Tech Could Emerge From Coronavirus Crisis Stronger Than Ever The New York Times - Daisuke Wakabayashi, Jack Nicas, Steve Lohr, and Mike Isaac
* Update:
What Techlash? Virus could remake industry giants’ image The Information – Cory Weinberg
March 25, 2020 Will Covid-19 end the big tech backlash? The Interface – Casey Newton
April 1, 2020 Why a pandemic is bringing out our best online The New York Times – Shira Ovide
April 2, 2020
Keep calm and carry on: How the internet will see us through COVID-19 crisis ZDNet - David Gewirtz
April 6, 2020 Facebook and Google's coronavirus competition The Interface – Casey Newton
April 9, 2020
The Politics of 2020 Are Looking Less Ominous for Tech Bloomberg - Eric Newcomer
April 27, 2020
Tech giants are profiting — and getting more powerful — even as the global economy tanks The Washington Post – Elizabeth Dwoskin
* Update:
On the other hand:
May 1, 2020 The immunity of the Tech Giants The New York Times – Kara Swisher
May 1, 2020 How the virus could boomerang on Facebook, Google and Amazon Politico – Steven Overly and Leah Nylen
But, then again:
August 5, 2020 The Tech You Love The New York Times - Shira Ovide
"I’m a widowed great-grandmother in my tenth decade, living alone. My family is scattered all over the globe. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom and Google Meet (with instant captions) have been a lifeline for me. Seeing my children and grandchildren’s faces and talking with them on a regular basis, sometimes daily, has made the lockdown and isolation bearable. I’m aware of the nefariousness of Big Data. But this technology cancels it out for me." — Blanche Korngold, Brookline, Mass.
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