How Big is Big Tech?

David Stockdale

September 24, 2018

https://www.digitalethics.org/essays/how-big-big-tech

" Rise of Technology"

First Impression:

Tech companies are the top dogs nowadays in this era, such as Apple and Samsung leading the pack with smartphones and apps galore. It does intrigue though to wonder how big are those companies nowadays. 

Quote: 

"I think we humans, especially in the Western world, and especially inside democracies, are wired to be skeptical and mindful of large institutions of any kind…It's just that they have a lot of power and control, and so you want to inspect them. Maybe that's a better word. You kind of want to always be inspecting them."

Reflection Proper:

In today's world, when it comes to companies, the tech sector is growing and growing at a progressive rate everyday, what with all the new enhancements and features their new inventions and gizmos show up day after day improving our lives in ways that is unbelievable to others. But when it comes to asking "how big are they", as in how big is big tech really, that becomes a very interesting subject. My thoughts on this essay are as follows: first off, when it comes to economy, the tech sector has been ever-growing in economic power, due the fact that majority of tech products are getting to become more and more of an essential part in our everyday lives especially in these modern conditions, regardless of what age; I personally agree with that statement, as I always need a device with me at all times whether there's schoolwork involved or something else that involves the use of tech. Secondly, in relation to economics as well, it is well-known that thanks to technology way back during the 2000s, unemployment is at the lowest it has been ever since, as the tech sector opened a lot of job (ranging from 150,000 to 200,000 jobs a month, according to the article), but I agree with the fact about an "occurring phenomenon" that involves rises in wages, i.e. like the article stated: Amazon employees' median annual compensation is way less than how much Jeff Bezos makes, not to mention even time involved in creating the cash ---honestly though, tech companies are so rich nowadays, they should be lenient as well in giving a well-deserved amount to their employees who worked so hard in making the company rise. Third, in our world, there are large companies that dominate the tech industry, and innovations are being created left and right, as there are no shortage of ideas involving either new features or new creations. And lastly, this thought involves politics somewhat --- governments should take action when it comes to the certain topic involving "economies in which the capitalist mode of production is the dominant mode", or in other words, wealthy people having a lot of influence over the lives of average people when it comes to these economic conditions ---- this sort of thing should be reassessed in order to bring about positive changes and effects to world out there who have economies and class differences issues and what not.

5 Things Learned From Article: 

1. I learned that in today's society, tech companies on the rise is a popular and well-known subject.

2. I learned about technology nowadays are becoming more and more of an essential part in our everyday lives.

3. I learned that there is still the issue of class differences in today's society, even in tech companies.

4. I learned that in the subject of economy, there is unfairness due to the fact about certain employers or company heads have disproportions when it comes to money and employees --- i.e. the Amazon employees' median annual compensation is way less than how much Jeff Bezos makes . 

5. I learned that systems like these, that involves economies of which wealthy people are having a lot of influence over it and not to mention abusing it against average people, should be reassessed.

5 Integrative Questions:

1. How can one promote class equality in today's tech-enhanced society?

2. Why do employers never give the benefit of a doubt and never treat their employees right, even in today's tech society?

3. What gadgets do you use in your daily lives, as in the ones that are most essential to you?

4. What's your opinion on the fact about some economies that in which capitalism in production is strong?

5. Why do you think tech companies abuse their powers?