How Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google manipulate our emotions | Scott Galloway

Summary

Scott Galloway's talk dissects the impact of tech giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple on human instincts. He argues these companies have become modern deities, shaping our behaviors and values. Galloway criticizes their pursuit of shareholder value over societal well-being, highlighting issues like tax avoidance, job destruction, and the spread of fake news. He calls for regulation and societal pushback to ensure these firms are held accountable.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Our species' need for a superbeing is fulfilled by entities like Google, which we trust to provide answers to our most difficult questions.
• 🌐 Google is considered a modern-day deity, with people placing immense trust in its search results over traditional authorities.
• 💖 Emotional needs, such as love and affection, are crucial for human well-being, with social connections being vital to longevity.
• 🛒 Amazon represents our consumptive gut, tapping into the instinct for 'more is better', a strategy that continues to be successful in business.
• 💰 The pursuit of shareholder value often targets our 'irrational organs', leading to high-profit margins in sectors like fashion and beauty.
• 📈 The market capitalization of tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google has grown exponentially, surpassing the GDP of many countries.
• 🚨 There's a growing concern about the social and economic impact of these companies, including tax avoidance and job destruction.
• 🤔 The public sentiment towards tech companies is shifting from admiration to scrutiny, with questions about their societal responsibilities.
• 📰 The majority of news consumed comes from social media, often leading to the spread of misinformation or 'fake news'.
• 🛐 There's an 'idolatry of innovation' where the value of character and kindness is overshadowed by the pursuit of technological advancement and profit.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe is the primary target for building a multibillion-dollar organization?

The speaker believes that to build a multibillion-dollar organization, one must be clear on which instinct or organ they are targeting.

How does the speaker describe the human need for a superbeing?

The speaker describes the human need for a superbeing as a result of our brains being capable of asking difficult questions but lacking the processing power to answer them.

What does the speaker equate Google to in terms of its role in people's lives?

The speaker equates Google to a modern-day God, as it is the entity people turn to for answers and has more credibility than traditional authorities.

What does the speaker suggest is the best indicator for living a long life?

The speaker suggests that the best indicator for living a long life is the number of people one loves, as caretaking and affection have significant impacts on health outcomes.

How does the speaker view Amazon's business strategy?

The speaker views Amazon's business strategy as tapping into the human instinct for consumption and the desire for 'more for less'.

What does the speaker say about the role of Facebook in fulfilling human needs?

The speaker says that Facebook taps into our instinctive need not only to be loved but also to love others, primarily through pictures that create empathy and reinforce relationships.

What does the speaker claim is the key to business success?

The speaker claims that the key to business success is tapping into the irrational organs, which refers to appealing to people's emotions rather than their rationality.

How does the speaker describe the impact of the four companies (Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google) on society?

The speaker describes the impact of these companies as disarticulating and reassembling human identity, targeting aspects such as God, love, consumption, and sex.

What concern does the speaker express about the tax contributions of these successful companies?

The speaker expresses concern that these companies are not paying their fair share in taxes, which leads to less successful companies having to pay more than their fair share.

What does the speaker suggest is the reason behind the job destruction caused by companies like Amazon?

The speaker suggests that the job destruction is a result of these companies' efficiency and pursuit of shareholder value, leading to the elimination of traditional retail jobs.

How does the speaker feel about the current societal worship of innovation and youth?

The speaker feels that the current societal worship of innovation and youth has led to a loss of focus on character and kindness, and an idolization of companies and individuals that create shareholder value.