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It really depends on whether you look at the startup as the means or the end. For example, while the creation of Microsoft did not directly fix the problem of h
by tgriesser 16y ago
It really depends on whether you look at the startup as the means or the end. For example, while the creation of Microsoft did not directly fix the problem of healthcare or hunger, it allowed for Bill Gates to create his foundation, and thus indirectly created a ton of good for the world.
Same goes for Facebook, yes of course keeping up with your friends has no direct impact on real issues, but the fact that 110m went to public schools in an area that really needs it - that is a pretty big impact.
The same goes for any other person who creates wealth from web startups or any business in general - I don't think that web startups themselves are going to do much directly but when you take the knowledge and potential wealth that you acquire in the process and put it toward a good cause, that is one way that you can fix a social or human problem with your app as the author challenges.
Just my take on it.
- alex1 16y agoIn some ways, Facebook does have a direct impact on real issues. It is much easier now for non-profits to get their message out to people, through Facebook. Applications like Causes makes it easier for organizations that do have an impact on real issues to collect donations from Facebook users.
- tgriesser 16y agoAgreed, I actually think all of them have direct impacts, it seems however the author is implying that if the app is not built specifically for the means of doing something altruistic it is in some way greedy or frivolous or something. I'm arguing that the applications doesn't have to be directly focused on a particular issue, and it still has legitimate uses as you pointed out, and make real world changes that are on the scale that the author thinks that technology apparently should be used for.