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Version 12 Version 13
The Pandemic Feeds Tech Companies’ Power The Pandemic Feeds Tech Companies’ Power
(about 2 months later)
We need technology to keep us supplied, connected and informed in this pandemic. And these changes may stick with us. Are we giving too much power to tech companies now — and possibly forever?We need technology to keep us supplied, connected and informed in this pandemic. And these changes may stick with us. Are we giving too much power to tech companies now — and possibly forever?
I chatted about this on Twitter with Kara Swisher, a veteran technology journalist and a New York Times contributing Opinion writer. She was smart, and not boring. Here are portions of our conversation. It’s been lightly edited.I chatted about this on Twitter with Kara Swisher, a veteran technology journalist and a New York Times contributing Opinion writer. She was smart, and not boring. Here are portions of our conversation. It’s been lightly edited.
Shira: How do you feel about us relying more than ever on services from tech companies?Shira: How do you feel about us relying more than ever on services from tech companies?
Kara: I’m nervous about it. It doesn’t abrogate the problems they had before.Kara: I’m nervous about it. It doesn’t abrogate the problems they had before.
Amazon is doing great things, yet look at what’s going on at their warehouses. Zoom is doing great things. But I have school-age kids, so I’m not too happy about what’s happening there with privacy and security.Amazon is doing great things, yet look at what’s going on at their warehouses. Zoom is doing great things. But I have school-age kids, so I’m not too happy about what’s happening there with privacy and security.
Facebook has been better than in the past; it’s not permitting false information about the coronavirus to spread. I’m glad they are doing this, but I’m not going to give them a standing ovation for it.Facebook has been better than in the past; it’s not permitting false information about the coronavirus to spread. I’m glad they are doing this, but I’m not going to give them a standing ovation for it.
Should we focus on this global health crisis, and drop government investigations into the dominance of big technology companies?Should we focus on this global health crisis, and drop government investigations into the dominance of big technology companies?
You don’t have to throw everything overboard in a crisis. If threatened with regulation, tech companies will say, “We have to be big to fight this.” But they didn’t really fight this. Doctors fought this. Analog doctors.You don’t have to throw everything overboard in a crisis. If threatened with regulation, tech companies will say, “We have to be big to fight this.” But they didn’t really fight this. Doctors fought this. Analog doctors.
What should tech companies like Amazon do to protect their workers?What should tech companies like Amazon do to protect their workers?
Tech companies have lived off the back of other people’s cheap labor for a long time — whether it’s an Uber driver, a delivery person or Amazon warehouse workers. It’s just coming into sharp relief.Tech companies have lived off the back of other people’s cheap labor for a long time — whether it’s an Uber driver, a delivery person or Amazon warehouse workers. It’s just coming into sharp relief.
These workers deserve much stronger pay and more benefits. That’s costly to the people who want to stay enormously wealthy, and to consumers who like a low price.These workers deserve much stronger pay and more benefits. That’s costly to the people who want to stay enormously wealthy, and to consumers who like a low price.
But tech companies aren’t the only ones with vulnerable, often low-wage workers.But tech companies aren’t the only ones with vulnerable, often low-wage workers.
Absolutely. Income inequality is a problem for our age, especially with tech facilitating it. The question is, is our country committed to helping the least of us?Absolutely. Income inequality is a problem for our age, especially with tech facilitating it. The question is, is our country committed to helping the least of us?
Will this pandemic change how we live? Will we stop doing group activities or shopping in stores?Will this pandemic change how we live? Will we stop doing group activities or shopping in stores?
I don’t think that people will no longer go to work or go outside. You will go to restaurants — certain restaurants. It’s just going to accelerate trends that have already been happening.I don’t think that people will no longer go to work or go outside. You will go to restaurants — certain restaurants. It’s just going to accelerate trends that have already been happening.
It was hard enough already for mom-and-pop stores. I was going to go to the movies for “Top Gun” or “Mulan,” but I wasn’t going to theaters often.It was hard enough already for mom-and-pop stores. I was going to go to the movies for “Top Gun” or “Mulan,” but I wasn’t going to theaters often.
What is keeping you happy right now?What is keeping you happy right now?
I just had a baby with my girlfriend, and staring at a baby who has no idea that any of this is happening is really quite something. Watch a baby eat bananas for the first time. You will feel just fine.I just had a baby with my girlfriend, and staring at a baby who has no idea that any of this is happening is really quite something. Watch a baby eat bananas for the first time. You will feel just fine.
This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays.This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays.
After I wrote about my challenges with living through screens, Rick Closson from Santa Barbara, Calif., wrote in:After I wrote about my challenges with living through screens, Rick Closson from Santa Barbara, Calif., wrote in:
A half-dozen of us in the Covid-vulnerable demographic usually meet on Tuesdays to “solve” the problems of our town one historic brick at a time.
The California-wide lockdown has interrupted that, and Joe’s Cafe has closed. After testing the limits of email as social discourse, we held a virtual lunch this week using GoToMeeting. It was great to see faces with voices again, and we’ll use it as long as required.
But it’s no permanent substitute for sitting shoulder to shoulder in a restaurant booth, being able to comment on the daily special or chat with the wait staff refilling iced teas. And we miss the food smells and background bustle. We’ve made offline payments to the restaurant owners for distribution to staff for missed tips and will continue as long as this quarantine lasts.
Stand by your pan. A U.S. government agency, wanting to prevent additional trips to the emergency room during the pandemic, is using Quinn the Quarantine Fox to dispense prevention tips on social media about household dangers like cooking fires.Stand by your pan. A U.S. government agency, wanting to prevent additional trips to the emergency room during the pandemic, is using Quinn the Quarantine Fox to dispense prevention tips on social media about household dangers like cooking fires.
“I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life.” My colleague David Segal wrote about how our homebound times are tailor-made for people who stream video games for a living.“I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life.” My colleague David Segal wrote about how our homebound times are tailor-made for people who stream video games for a living.
A Times special report explores the ways artificial intelligence technology is making its presence felt in our pop culture, the resilience of our jobs and much more.A Times special report explores the ways artificial intelligence technology is making its presence felt in our pop culture, the resilience of our jobs and much more.
Merriam-Webster has a running Twitter thread of beautiful but mostly useless words. “Murmuration” is my favorite so far. (Thanks to Reply All for recommending this.)Merriam-Webster has a running Twitter thread of beautiful but mostly useless words. “Murmuration” is my favorite so far. (Thanks to Reply All for recommending this.)
We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think of this newsletter and what else you’d like us to explore. You can reach us at ontech@nytimes.com.We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think of this newsletter and what else you’d like us to explore. You can reach us at ontech@nytimes.com.
If you would like to receive this newsletter each weekday, please sign up here.If you would like to receive this newsletter each weekday, please sign up here.