I was just reading why one of the Guardian Articles titled "Why Silicon Valley can't fix itself," and I take issue with it constantly blaming corporations for extorting the individual through content that is designed to keep you addicted. While I don't necessarily agree with the fact that corporations are creating addictive content designed so that an individual spends as much time as possible viewing ads and participating in any other activity that the corporation profits from. However, for centuries since their inception, any business has been designing products to keep individuals addicted to further their own gains like the American Tobacco Company in 1890 which made cigarettes mainstream to Americans and created the modern nicotine addiction, so modern-day corporations would naturally follow the same idea of creating addicting products. Now individuals have a choice whether or not to become active in Social Media like how individuals before had a choice whether or not to use cigarettes so personally, I think the responsibility should fall on the individual to avoid the addiction themselves rather than placing the blame on corporations. Teens now understand the risks of continually using social media and the harm that it causes so I don't believe that people can continue blaming corporations for creating a product that consumers continue demanding.
-Thomas Luong
I completely agree. Big tech corporations in silicon valley should not be held responsible for the actions of the individual. Everybody does have a choice in their own actions, some actions help and some hurt but no matter what the person has options in the way they conduct their own lives. The equivalent of blaming tech corporations for people's addictive actions on their devices would be holding a plastic spoon company responsible for you being fat and always eating cake. it is not only illogical, but it is unfair to the company because they cannot be expected to regulate what you do.
ReplyDeleteHowever, on the other hand big tech companies are heavily abusing their power. They have sway in the thoughts of billions of people and instead of using it for good, they use it to grow their profits and deepen their pockets which is not right and should be fixed.
I agree with what you're saying because it is making it seem that they are doing the "don't hate the player hate the game" sort of thing. Which isn't wrong, until they put all of the blame on companies. I agree that blame should be put on the individual, but i also think some should be put onto the company. If it wasn't for the social media company putting the addiction out there, we wouldn't be addicted. It's more of a 75% individual 25% company split for blame as I see it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that people have a choice whether or not to start getting hooked on something. However, it's also up to corporations to be transparent about their business practices, and it's up to the consumers to hold them and their transparency accountable.
ReplyDeletePeople are responsible for themselves and how they act. They and those around them need to monitor their screen time if they see it as a problem
I agree that the corporations are not to be at blame. They are essentially doing their job to live, and we as humans are supporting their creation. There have been multiple studies showing how social media could be bad for a teen and cause them to have addiction, but it was their choice. If worse comes to worse, just like nicotine, people can stop their addiction to social media through multiple actions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree with your input on people to not blame the corporations anymore for products that they themselves keep demanding. However, if people should stop accusing corporations then why did the corporations developed theses addictive products in the first place. Clearly, these corporations aren’t disturbing these products because this is their source of income. However, these corporations are well aware that their products are highly addictive. So I believe that people have the right to blame these corporations. However, I can understand your argument and you did make a valid point on this issue.
ReplyDelete-Emma Reyna