So let me get the elephant out of the room. I know everybody is talking about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s grilling on Capitol Hill. And if you can’t get enough of this story, then here’s another article. However, there’s also a bigger question here. How do we fix big tech? Can we even fix IT support?
In the 1990s, the Internet boom changed everything. But now, in the late 2010s, it seems to be at a crossroads. I say this because this technology gave us so much jobs, innovation, and ease. Now, it’s giving us fear, scandal, cyber crime, and if you ask some people, borderline apocalypse. Look at the AI/robot technology movement. At one time, people looked at the Internet as finally, a level playing field for prosperity. Anyone who wanted to get rich, or add income, could just start an online business. However now, it looks like all of online industry and computer manufacturing are dominated by a handful of mega corporations. There was a time when tech seemed like an escape from harsh realities. But now, big brother technology follows us everywhere, whether we want it to or not, adding more gray hair, ulcers and stress.
Don’t get me wrong. I love 21st century technology and modern IT service. It kept me employed for nearly 15 years. I love the fact that I…no…we can do things that we couldn’t do with it even 10 years ago. But just like a parent with a misbehaving child…who and what I love is also who and what I chastise. Many say, “Companies like Facebook and Amazon are too big to fail. So they’re too big to care.”. I understand that concern, but they better care. If Mark Zuckerberg didn’t care before, you can bet he’s caring now. Imagine your company’s dirty laundry being aired out for all America and rest of the world to see. That is what is happening to Facebook now. President Trump is already calling Amazon out. These two stories alone should be warnings to us all. How do we fix big tech? Can we?