Small print in the title of this book - “The Folly of Tech Solutionism” - pretty much summarizes what it is about if one simply ignores attendant implications, and mind boggling complexity of tech interactions and shortcomings. Morozov begins his narrative with examples of Schmidt (Google) and Zuckerberg (Facebook). Both reflect in public statements their unequivocal conviction tech (web in these cases) and its strengths possess ability to solve world problems. Schmidt is quoted as saying “ . . . if we get this right I believe we can solve all the world’s problems”! A very big ‘if’ it seems to me! So far a most affective use of tech is Anonymous but serving negative goals.
All aspects of present tech changes involve a highly complex network of tools, people, opinions, physical locations, laws, life styles, etc. A combinatorial conundrum experienced, in small ways, in past with telephone books and catalogs but never before in real time. To make these contentions even more incredulous both cited experts say they are not in it for the money? A person recently took me on a tour of her Facebook ‘friends’ pages. She rapidly clicked through hundreds of pages only to comment ’I simply don’t have time to look at all these photos of somebody else’s toys and vacations?” In her case doesn’t seem Facebook serves well its most elementary objective. Zuckerberg and Schmidt are not the only tech optimists. Daily more books are printed with titles such as “Abundance”, “The Future”, “How to Create a Brain”, “Moral Machines”, "Darwin in the Machine", "Robots Will Steal Your Job", "Our Final Invention", "Big Data", and many others.
Tech accomplishments thus far are very impressive and arriving swiftly, thus a future rapidly becoming our present. As we race into this future there are examples of those studying implications of tech. They are not altogether optimistic or may be with highly qualified conclusions. An Oxford University study observes a realistic probability approaching 50% unemployment for many of 702 U.S. job classifications! Opposing claims are that new tech toys will increase job opportunities? Little if anything using Facebook or Google explicitly addresses problems such as employment. Many other studies look at influence of high tech on employment, environment, organization, political behavior, economic performance, politics and so on. Few of these studies are unqualifiedly optimistic. No tool or person can be conclusive about an indefinite future.
Present tech trends possess at least as much probability of adverse influence as have those in past. Morozov addresses some of these influences. One adverse influence of blogs is on daily news. In his view, with which I agree, bloggers have developed a forum “creating beachheads for manufacturing news”. An example he discusses is Huffington. The modus operandi of these blogs is such one need only respond to a blog, click ‘send’ and promptly forget it. Thus is produced a collection, a sample, of responses with opinions on which a new story can be constructed as an ‘exclusive’. Tech is easily a means of ‘participating’ in public affairs without pain of committing time or physical effort. Governments have also gone through experiments with tech. A Scandanavian country decided the public should be direct source of participation in creating legislation. They set up a system in which a set percent of the population could propose legislation for consideration by government. The program died because there was no mechanism to accommodate sector disagreements let alone ridiculous ideas, special interest motives, legally incomplete or impossible proposals, and so on. One could conclude such a tech process could make worse referendum/initiative tools. Being easier than the time consuming referendum/initiative process could completely paralyze California governing and grow deficits even faster. As early as 1821 Saint Simon proposed that “ . . decisions must be the result of scientific demonstrations totally independent of human will . . “ Didn’t work that way of course and probably won’t soon.
Will there come a day, observes Morozov, when we will pick up a book made by printing and binding a collection of tweets? Probably - but will it be entertaining or informative or useful in any way?
Morosov’s observations are useful but certainly not exhaustive. It is hoped tech optimists will take him seriously. I do.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
Lodovico Mazzolin
The Net isn't the panacea!
Reviewed in Italy on September 10, 2017
Mark Pack
Evgeny Morozov keeps you on your toes as you swing from agreeing to disagreeing and back again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2015
