As a young adult these were the innovators to aspire to. But the last 3/4 years things have turned. I keep thinking back to the apple 1984 ad and that they have become what the hated. Big tech are no longer innovators. They are becoming exploitive and controlling.
I hear you on that. It seems like there’s room for it, but it’s just covered in this gross amorphous hyper-capitalist structure. I am inspired by DeepMind giving away the AlphaFold protein structure database for free. That was awesome! YouTube too is awesome, and it’s profitable, but they slowly make insane, gross decisions to chase 30% YoY growth. 1.5 hour ads, double ads, cutting creator payments, etc. Just make it sustainable! Repeat ad nauseum across the business units. It’s upsetting.
Do you feel you are turning away from tech as a result? I have pushed the other way recently and started to enjoy stepping away, regaining control of privacy an adjusting to suit my needs.
I have for sure been avoiding programming since I left. Yes avoiding some tech as a result. I’m de-googling as they say. I’ve spent a lot of time with my family, pursued other hobbies, and volunteered more, which has all been fantastic.
I know I will get back into programming at some point. I really enjoy the selfhosting community and I think I will likely be focusing on thr areas of decentralized private networks (similar to Tailscale), decentralized apps (not really web3, but open source apps that can leverage ipfs easily and make it dead simple for others), and tools for public good (promoting good information, skepticism and rational thinking, promoting democracy, fighting against fascism/GOP, etc.).
As a young adult these were the innovators to aspire to. But the last 3/4 years things have turned. I keep thinking back to the apple 1984 ad and that they have become what the hated. Big tech are no longer innovators. They are becoming exploitive and controlling.
I hear you on that. It seems like there’s room for it, but it’s just covered in this gross amorphous hyper-capitalist structure. I am inspired by DeepMind giving away the AlphaFold protein structure database for free. That was awesome! YouTube too is awesome, and it’s profitable, but they slowly make insane, gross decisions to chase 30% YoY growth. 1.5 hour ads, double ads, cutting creator payments, etc. Just make it sustainable! Repeat ad nauseum across the business units. It’s upsetting.
Do you feel you are turning away from tech as a result? I have pushed the other way recently and started to enjoy stepping away, regaining control of privacy an adjusting to suit my needs.
I have for sure been avoiding programming since I left. Yes avoiding some tech as a result. I’m de-googling as they say. I’ve spent a lot of time with my family, pursued other hobbies, and volunteered more, which has all been fantastic.
I know I will get back into programming at some point. I really enjoy the selfhosting community and I think I will likely be focusing on thr areas of decentralized private networks (similar to Tailscale), decentralized apps (not really web3, but open source apps that can leverage ipfs easily and make it dead simple for others), and tools for public good (promoting good information, skepticism and rational thinking, promoting democracy, fighting against fascism/GOP, etc.).