“All current signals point out that the backlash after November 2020 will surpass the one that originated in November 2016”

PRovoke (formerly, The Holmes Report) published an article about the Techlash. I'm glad that I could contribute to this piece and be featured alongside brilliant PR professionals. Here are a few snippets out of my interview. I recommend reading the whole story HERE.

Nirit Weiss-Blatt, Ph.D. and author of Techlash and Tech Crisis Communication, says what's we're seeing today began as a "post-election reckoning" in 2017, including Russian interference in the election, misinformation, extremist content, hate speech, cyber-attacks, and data breaches.

"All current signals point out that the backlash after November 2020 will surpass the one that originated in November 2016 in magnitude," she warns. "Some politicians and citizens will create total chaos, and tech would be blamed for all of it. The pendulum is drawn to such extremes. So, I don't expect that the near future will help us reach any middle ground." 

The concept of the middle ground that we are among pendulum swings emerged in many interviews for this piece. For instance, we went from fawning stories on founders and the media awestruck by the trajectory of unicorns to now, tech companies being framed as villains. There's plenty of evidence that tech players squandered the initial goodwill, but Weiss-Blatt says the picture is more nuanced. 

"As you would expect, tech PR professionals think the media pendulum has swung too far in the negative direction," she says, adding that as investigative tech journalists discovered scandals, others jumped onto the news cycle. But also, tech PR's "infamous secrecy and limited access heavily contributed to where they are today." 

"We move from hero worship to villainy, but the next phase is to find a balance, most likely through adjustments in design and, possibly, regulation," says Kim. "Those are the types of conversations we need to drive."

And those conversations need to happen across multiple threads, as Weiss-Blatt points out, techlash spans the cultural and the political. 

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The article discusses the importance of companies taking a stand on social issues. In that regard, my host at USC, Fred Cook, the Director of the Center for Public Relations and the Chairman of Golin, initiated research on New Activism. It examined the PR industry's views on activism and how prepared communicators are to react or work with various activist groups. I highly encourage listening to his conversations with leading activists and PR executives in the #PRFuture podcast. I think that purpose-driven employees are actually a source of optimism, even when there's not a lot of it left. 

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Update (10/30/2020): The full video of the "Techlash panel" is now on YouTube

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 has 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, 2020

Has 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.

The Best Tech Podcasts

    (From Netflix's "Manifest" Season 1 Episode 10. I've made this pic).

This post (from February 2020) was updated with additional tech podcasts (September 2021).

- The recommendations from February 2020: 

L.A. has the worst traffic in the world. 

Since I'm spending most of my days on its bumpy roads, I decided to turn this unpleasant experience into something beneficial. This is how my tech podcasts addiction started. 

They make the traffic problem bearable and help me keep my finger on the pulse of the tech industry. Win-Win. Now, I'm gladly sharing my recommendations with you.

• It is in NO particular order. I love them all.

Recode Decode

Description: Recode's Kara Swisher hosts candid interviews with tech execs, politicians, celebrities, and more about their big ideas and how they're changing our world.

Fascinating episode: "Anna Wiener: The dark side of the tech industry's seductive culture."

Warning label: You'll wonder how Kara manages to do so much in one day while you're just listening to one of her trillion in-depth interviews.

* In 2019, Recode Decode won the "Adweek Podcast of the Year" Award. Well-deserved. 

Queen Kara paved the way for all the others in the Vox kingdom and beyond.

Pivot

Description: With great power comes great scrutiny. Recode's Kara Swisher and NYU Prof. Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the way technology is shaping business and culture across media, advertising, politics, and more.

Fascinating episode: "Gloves off over privacy, from Apple to Microsoft to Grindr. PLUS Scott's big 2020 bets."

Warning label: You'll start describing actions as a "Gangsta move!"

Reset

Description: Every story is a tech story. We live in a world where algorithms drive our interests, scientists are re-engineering our food supply, and a robot may be your next boss. 

Vox's Arielle Duhaime-Ross explores why - and how - tech is changing everything.

Fascinating episode: "The Airbnb Scam." Interviews with Mike Isaac and Allie Conti.

Label warning: You'll start saying bye to friends using "Later, Nerds."

Land of the Giants

Description: In less than two decades, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos scaled an online marketplace for books into the world's most valuable company. But at what cost? The podcast addresses Amazon's rise to power with detailed, thought-provoking, measured reporting from host Jason Del Rey. This show offers never-before-told, behind-the-scenes stories for the Amazon-obsessed. 

* Season 2 would focus on Netflix - I can't wait.

Fascinating episode: "Is Amazon Too Big? We Ask Its Sellers."

Warning label: You'll feel less good about yourself the next time you order something using Amazon's one-day delivery.

First Contact

Description: Laurie Segall hosts a weekly podcast series that explores the people and technology that are changing what it means to be human. First Contact brings listeners engaging and thought-provoking interviews with some of the biggest names in tech in ways we can all relate to.

Fascinating episode: "Ex-Facebook Security Chief Speaks Out on Russia & Spies in Silicon Valley." An interview with Alex Stamos.

Warning label: You'll start thinking about your first contact with the people around you.

TechDirt

Description: The Techdirt Podcast, hosted by Mike Masnick. Each episode begins with an essay, followed by a discussion, covering topic areas that are less news-driven and instead more about larger ideas/concepts that we think are worth discussing.

Fascinating episode: "The Past & Future of Section 230." An interview with Prof. Jeff Kosseff.

Warning label: There are ways to make tech dirt-free. You'll just need the right shovel.

The Information's 411

Description: A weekly podcast by The Information, a subscription tech news site doing deep dives and investigative looks at the tech and media industries. Each episode highlights some of the major happenings in the tech business world. Host: Tom Dotan.

Fascinating episode: From all of the serious episodes, I decided to choose the funniest one: "Finding Humanity in (HBO's) Silicon Valley." An interview with Thomas Middleditch and Zach Woods about the most hilarious (and sadly accurate) show about Silicon Valley.

Warning label: The rest of the coverage from "The Information" requires a subscription. Their reporting is always unique and important, but it's your choice, of course.

Bonus: Five more episodes

From Business Casual: "All Nerds Not Welcome: Why Tech's Diversity Problem Matters." An interview by Kinsey Grant (Morning Brew Newsletter) with Reshma Saujani (Girls Who Code).

From This Week in Google: "Our Best of 2019." Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis & Stacey Higginbotham debate while presenting opposite perspectives on various tech stories.

From TED Talks Technology: "What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good? | Eli Pariser.

From The Daily: "The End of Privacy as We Know It?" An interview by Annie Brown with Kashmir Hill, the technology reporter for The New York Times, about her Clearview-AI expose.

From Today Explained: "Shaken like a polarized picture." An interview by Sean Rameswaram with Ezra Klein. Most of this podcast's episodes are not really into tech, but they are incredibly informative. What can I say? Vox knows how to produce great podcasts.

- September 2021: 

Big Technology Podcast

Description: The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world, featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators. Alex Kantrowitz, a Silicon Valley journalist who's interviewed the world's top tech CEOs – from Mark Zuckerberg to Larry Ellison – is the host.

Fascinating episode: "Does YouTube Radicalize? A Debate Between NYT's Kevin Roose and Software Engineer Mark Ledwich."

Warning label: In-depth conversations. Nothing extreme and includes nuances. So, those are the types of conversations that you are probably not used to but should.

Sway

Description: Power, unpacked. "Sway" is a new interview show hosted by Kara Swisher, "Silicon Valley's most feared and well-liked journalist." Now taking on Washington, Hollywood, and the world, Kara investigates power: who has it, who's been denied it, and who dares to defy it.

Fascinating episode: "Why Ashton Kutcher and Julie Cordua Are Defending Apple."

Warning label: The toughest questions possible. Brace yourself; Kara is coming.  

Build For Tomorrow

Description: This is a show about the unexpected things that shape us and how we can shape the future. Hosted by Jason Feifer, this show was previously called Pessimists Archive.  

Fascinating episode: "How To Live Like Ancient Royalty."

Warning label: Jason Feifer is probably the last tech-optimist standing. In an era of Techlash, it's fascinating.   

Sudhir Breaks the Internet

Description: The Columbia University sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh is hosting a podcast about the digital revolution. In each episode, Venkatesh draws from his connections to interview the people who are building and running the digital world and those who are using it in a signal way, digging deep into their motivations and challenging their priorities.

Fascinating episode: "The Garbage Can Model of Decision Making."

Warning label: The last episode was in May 2021. So… stopped altogether? I don't know. I hope it will return.

 

Give them a listen and thank me later.

If you have any additional recommendations, please do share.