💻 Doug Rushkoff Criticizes Silicon Valley's Digital Obsession and Wealth Disparities
Plus: MTV News Shutting Down, Elon Musk Steps Down as Twitter CEO, Transitioning to Executive Chairman Role, and more...
Today’s pick
Doug Rushkoff Is Ready to Renounce the Digital Revolution
In his latest book, "Survival of the Richest," Rushkoff criticizes the mindset of Silicon Valley technocrats, emphasizing their obsession with acceleration without a purpose and their contribution to the self-destructive impulses of the digital era. He argues that the digital economy has created a small group of billionaires while leaving many others impoverished and unhappy, leading him to question the social construction of money and power dynamics in media landscapes. (Malcolm Harris via WIRED)
For @WIRED I got to hang out with @rushkoff and talk about how he went from Mayor of Cyberia to a permaculture dude in the basement of Queens College.
How MTV Broke News for a Generation
MTV News, which played a significant role in bridging the gap between news and pop culture for a generation, is being shut down as part of Paramount's staff reduction. The news service was known for covering important events and cultural topics, appealing to young viewers with a focus on music and a non-condescending approach. It provided a unique platform that connected with young audiences and centered conversations around their interests and concerns. (Remy Tumin via The New York Times)
MTV News did it all: @kurt_loder broke the news of Cobain's death to the world; @tabithasoren interviewed Arafat; @suchinpak moved into dorms after Katrina; @RealSway talked about hip-hop w/Obama at the White House. I talked to them about its legacy
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Elon Musk says he's stepping down as Twitter CEO, will oversee product
Elon Musk has announced that he will step down as CEO of Twitter and transition to an executive chairman and chief technical officer role, overseeing product, software, and sysops, with the new CEO set to start in about six weeks, potentially being Linda Yaccarino, the global advertising chair of NBCUniversal; investors responded positively to the news, and Tesla's shares rose. Concerns had been raised by Tesla shareholders about Musk's divided attention and the need for him to focus more on the electric vehicle company. Musk's leadership of Twitter has seen challenges in the core advertising business, and the new CEO is expected to help bolster the company's ad business. (Jonathan Vanian via CNBC)
Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!
My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.
Is Chinese power about to peak?
China's rapid rise is slowing down, and forecasts suggest that it may reach economic parity with the United States rather than surpassing it, as previously predicted; challenges such as demographic shifts, declining productivity, and geopolitical tensions are dampening long-term growth prospects; there are debates about how China will handle this flatter trajectory, with optimistic scenarios involving reforms to boost productivity and liberalize the economy, while pessimists fear a more combative China; the most likely scenario is that China becomes a near-peer of the United States, leading to questions about avoiding misinterpretations and potential conflicts between the two superpowers. (The Economist)
China’s rapid rise has been a defining feature of the world for four decades. Now, however, its growth is slowing. This is what could happen next.
The Plot to Steal the Other Secret Inside a Can of Coca-Cola
Shannon You was a good chemist, a bad colleague—and a thief. When she tried to use the $120 million technology she stole, she got played. (Drake Bennett and Jordan Robertson via Bloomberg)
How a plot to steal the other secret formula in a can of Coke turned into a story of Chinese industrial espionage gone wrong
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