Jarvis expresses concern about the impact of the Trump administration on internet regulation and the potential for companies to be targeted for political reasons. He also comments on the political leanings of Silicon Valley billionaires, suggesting that their wealth can lead to corruption. Jarvis proposes that one solution for a better internet is to demote the geeks, drawing parallels with the evolution of other technologies such as printing and radio, where initial importance and decision-making power eventually shifted away from the technologists.
Key takeaways:
- Jeff Jarvis is a journalist and professor who has been blogging since 2001 and co-hosts two podcasts. His new book, _The Web We Weave_, defends the freedoms of the internet and critiques media's coverage of it.
- Jarvis believes that the media's moral panic over new technology is driven by a conflict of interest, as they view it as competition for audience and advertising dollars.
- He disagrees with the characterization of advertising cookies as 'surveillance', and believes that blaming phones and social media for young people's problems overlooks more serious issues.
- Jarvis is concerned about the potential for AI to be misused, and believes that the language around it has been corrupted. He also thinks that the internet and AI will eventually become less mysterious and more accessible to non-technologists.