Meta’s Moneyshot & How Tech Enabled “The Tinder Swindler” with Felina Tan, Jen Campbell & Ben Wiggins - Episode 14
Whether it’s social media, dating apps, podcasting platforms or the world stage of the Winter Olympics, the world is progressing ever closer to a tech revolution.
We’ve seen the very nature of Facebook change over its 18 year lifespan, the emergence of new ways to find love, & watched podcasts take the world by storm - and there’s no going back.
In this episode of Disconnected we’re breaking down the recent Meta stock price plummet (and how it’ll bounce right back), Spotify’s responsibility for content on its platform, particularly with recent controversies around Joe Rogan’s podcast, and how technology both enabled The Tinder Swindler and broadcast his demise.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
Meta’s stock price plummet & their all-out bet on the Metaverse
Spotify’s Joe Rogan controversy, and their responsibility to curate content
The Winter Olympics’ sponsorship woes & brand boycotts
How technology enabled The Tinder Swindler in ways previously impossible
Our ever increasing desire to digital detox
Episode Highlights:
“Facebook felt like a place that was super organic to spend time, engage with brands & celebrities and follow people. But I would argue that it's become one of the most invasive platforms out there. Honestly, I gave up using Facebook, three or four years regularly as a consumer.” - 7:00 - Ben Wiggins
“At least when they implemented stories, they brought out new things. They made it really easy to use, and it feels like now they're just ripping off other stuff while they create something new. I wonder if they've given up on Facebook a bit themselves, and they're just going for the metaverse as this new platform that's going to be huge. When it launches they'll obviously then make their money back in droves.” - 8:30 - Jen Campbell
“I think Spotify has done quite a good job of coming out and saying they're going to do all these things, like start putting warnings in front of content that goes out. And I believe if they're paying for the content like they are for Joe Rogan, then yeah, that is their responsibility.” - 22:00 - Jen Campbell
“It's not worth these brands taking a strong stance, it's not worth alienating China as an audience, which I imagine for all these top tier sponsors is a super important market for them.” - 31:00 - Ben Wiggins
“I don't believe in Amazon's ethics, but I buy from them anyway because it's so convenient. So it's difficult; it's 2022, there’s so many ‘woke’ opinions about various things, and obviously now it's the Olympics coming under fire for this sponsorship stuff, but because I'm not passionate about the Olympics, I feel like my stance on this is pretty neutral.” - 38:35 - Felina Tan
“It comes down to what the games are about and who is going to get impacted. If the sponsors will pull out and there's no money to put the games on, the people who are impacted are the athletes. It's not actually making a difference until the IOC sets up some sort of ethical practice or CSR programme of their own, which they won't do because they won't get involved in politics. The only people that will get impacted are the athletes and it's so unfair - that is their profession, and that is what they're there for.” - 42:00 - Jen Campbell
“Fundamentally con artists have existed long before Tinder, I'm sure dating back to the beginning of time. What Tinder gives them is easy access to a group of people, regardless of gender, whose primary goal is to find love or something similar to love, which leaves them susceptible. You're thinking with the emotional part of your brain, right? So you're hugely susceptible and vulnerable to what people tell you.” - 48:10 - Ben Wiggins
“I can't believe that the Tinder Swindler is still using the same fake name. His real name is already exposed, and still he goes around saying ‘I'm the son of this diamond billionaire’. It'll be interesting to see if there'll be more cases, because I feel like even though this sheds light on the problem of scammers through dating apps, I wouldn't be surprised if other people will take some notes from this, and there'll be more people who will fall into this trap of gullibility.” - 58:20 - Felina Tan
“I think everybody needs to, at some point during the day, put your phone down - Jag, put all three of them down! Switch everything off and just have a moment of calm that's completely off digital. Continuum is an artistic piece that Krista Kim has been doing across the world, and this piece is really just to shift to a positive digital consciousness, which I thought was very nice.” - 1:01:00 - Jen Campbell
Links & references:
Ben Wiggins:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewiggins/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Articles
Meta's bad week
https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-facebook-user-numbers-shrink-first-time-ever-2022-2?amp
Spotify's bad week
https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/02/spotify-stocks-fall-rogan-controversy
Tinder Swindler
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a38959609/tinder-swindler/
Olympic sponsors focusing more on digital & social to avoid backlash
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/business/olympic-sponsors-china-beijing.html
https://time.com/6144833/olympic-advertisers-china-human-rights/
Times Square art digital detox
http://arts.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/projects/midnight-moment/continuum/index.aspx